Pinoys urged to monitor blood pressure at home amid increase in hypertension cases

A health expert on Friday encouraged Filipinos to monitor their blood pressure at home amid the increase in hypertension cases during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Ang hypertension or high blood pressure ay patuloy na tumataas particularly during COVID-19, maraming hindi nakapagpa-measure at hindi nakapagpagamot,” Philippine Society of Hypertension (PSH) vice president Dr. Alejandro Diaz said during a public briefing.

(Hypertension or high blood pressure continues to increase particularly during COVID-19, as many people were not able to get checked or seek treatment.)

Without giving the specific number, Diaz said hypertension cases had gone down from 23%-25% to 18%-19% before the pandemic.

“Pero noong nag-pandemic tumaas ulit, napakita ito sa presyon na study ng Philippine Heart Association and at the same time sa May Measurement Month noong blood pressure awareness started in 2017 ay patuloy na tumataas nasa 30 plus percent,” he added.

(But it increased again during the pandemic as shown in the study of the Philippine Heart Association and at the same time in the May Measurement Month when blood pressure awareness started in 2017, it increased to over 30%.)

Diaz then encouraged Filipinos to monitor and regularly check their blood pressure at home to prevent complications such as stroke and heart attack.

“Very important na turuan natin lahat ng Pilipino na matutong kumuha ng blood pressure sa bahay,” he said.

(It is very important that we teach all Filipinos to learn how to check their blood pressure at home.)

“Sa bahay, ang dapat na blood pressure is less than 135/85. Pag nasa doctor’s clinic dapat ang normal blood pressure is less than 140/90. So pagka ang blood pressure is 140/90 and above ay high blood pressure na yan,” he further said.

(At home, the blood pressure should be less than 135/85. At the doctor's clinic, the normal blood pressure should be less than 140/90. So when the blood pressure is 140/90 and above, that is high blood pressure.)

He also advised those taking their anti-hypertensive medication for blood pressure not to be complacent and to still regularly check their blood pressure.

Diaz then encouraged Filipinos to adopt a healthy lifestyle, eat fruits and vegetables, exercise regularly, and avoid eating fast food and processed food to prevent hypertension. —KBK, GMA Integrated News