Cardiologists liken hypertension to a thief in the night.
“It’s a silent killer,” warns Dr. Deborah Ona, president of the Philippine Society of Hypertension (PSH), adding, “you do not know if you have it, because you don’t feel anything”.
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a condition in which the force of blood against the artery is so strong that it may lead to health problems like heart disease.
In the Philippines, mortality related to hypertension accounted for 2.38 percent (14,488) of total deaths, according to the 2018 data of the World Health Organization (WHO). Hypertension-related diabetes is also among the leading causes of death in the country as per the data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Despite the alarming figures, hypertension awareness in the country is very low, hence PSH is putting the focus on the annual May Measurement Month (MMM) to encourage the public to keep their blood pressure in check and raise awareness of the dangers of hypertension.
The campaign is usually held on World Hypertension Day which happens every May 17. This year, the campaign runs from May 1 until Nov. 30.
Since the inception of MMM in 2017, individuals have been invited to submit their blood pressure readings to the official website. There was no event in 2020 because of the pandemic, this year the event highlights the convenience of monitoring blood pressure at home.
“We made sure that throughout the campaign, our volunteers, partners, and participants can join without worrying about their safety and wellness,” says Dr. Alejandro F. Diaz, country lead of MMM 2021.
Those who wish to take part in this year’s campaign can encode their blood pressure on the MMM website or through the MMM mobile app. There are also screening sites in various locations in Manila, approved by the Department of Health. The Manila City Mayor’s office also supports the campaign.
The campaign is backed by OMRON blood pressure (BP) monitors which are clinically validated and endorsed by PSH. OMRON has been the official equipment partner of MMM since 2017. The company has also pledged more than 1,000 BP monitors to support the program.
According to experts, the first step in dealing with hypertension is to regularly monitor blood pressure, which can be conducted at home with the help of user-friendly gadgets.
Before switching on the BP monitor, it would be helpful to keep the following reminders in mind: (1) Rest for at least 15 minutes. (2) Do not take a bath, or drink alcohol, coffee, or tea 30 minutes before taking your blood pressure. (3) Choose a quiet place. (4) Sit properly, legs flat on the floor, back leaning comfortably on the chair. (5) Wear the cuff with your elbow resting on the table. Make sure the cuff is in the same level as your heart. (6) Do not talk or listen to anything while your blood pressure is being taken. (7) If you wish to repeat the test, do so within a two-minute interval.