Hypertension Silent but fatal

World Hypertension Day, that falls on May 17, is a reminder for everyone that the disease, which is mostly a lifestyle problem, is silent yet fatal.

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has warned that one-third of the population of the Sultanate of Oman is affected by hypertension, and steps must be taken seriously to avoid any dire consequences.

The MoH said World Hypertension Day is observed on May 17 to create awareness of high blood pressure as a disease, including its risks and the ways to prevent this extremely fatal illness.

Hypertension affects more than 1 billion people globally, and it accounts for about half of all heart disease- and stroke-related deaths worldwide. Hypertension does not cause any symptoms on its own, which is why it’s referred to as the silent killer.

“The World Hypertension Association estimates that nearly eight million people die annually because of this disease and more than half of those infected with it do not know the reality of their disease.”

It added that two out of every five adults in the Eastern Mediterranean Region are also affected by high blood pressure and one of the reasons includes the high consumption of sodium and little consumption of potassium.

According to the MoH, on average, the more sodium you consume, the higher is the blood pressure, which can lead to the possibility of having heart disease or a stroke.

heart attacks

MoH said primary high blood pressure or hypertension are associated with other health conditions that cause high blood pressure while secondary hypertension can happen over the years if left uncontrolled leading to heart attacks.

The ministry statement urged people to eat vegetables and fruits regularly and stop using tobacco products and alcohol abuse. High blood pressure can also lead to kidney failure, damage to the retina and loss of vision.

According to official statistics, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are responsible for most illnesses and deaths recorded in the last decade.

Over 4,000 citizens die each year from one of the four main NCDs representing 67 of all deaths; nearly one in five citizen adults die before the age of 70 from NCDs.

A quarter of the Omani population over 18 years (23.1 per cent) has high blood pressure and two-thirds (66.6 per cent) are overweight or obese (12).

Unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and tobacco use are of increasing concern, particularly among younger populations.

The government has taken efforts by establishing the National Multi-sectoral Non-communicable Disease Committee in 2012, developing an NCD policy and action plan, including a national screening programme to detect NCDs in those of 40 years and above.

primary healthcare

The government has also integrated the most common NCDs (diabetes, hypertension and asthma) into primary healthcare (PHC) and ensured the availability of all essential medications, the introduction of standards for salt in bread, and most recently, the introduction of taxation on sugar-sweetened beverages, energy drinks, tobacco products and soft drinks.

MoH has campaigned for effective salt reduction initiatives and scaling up tobacco control on a priority basis. Speaking to the Observer, health experts said that while medication and diet controls need to be observed on a priority basis, it is also important to walk daily for at least 30 minutes, have control over psychological stress and anger, and drink water regularly and reduce salt consumption.