The month of May is declared as the “National Hypertension Awareness Month” to prevent and control this disease. Hypertension is considered as the number one contributing risk factor for global deaths, causing strokes, heart attacks, and other cardiovascular complications. The Philippine Council for Health Research and Development joins the International Society of Hypertension and the Department of Health in celebrating the national awareness month to raise consciousness and to encourage citizens of all countries to reverse this epidemic.
This year’s theme for the hypertension awareness campaign is #KnowYourNumbers which aims to encourage everyone to have their blood pressure checked and measured. The proportion of strokes in younger adults is rising each year and it is mainly caused by high blood pressure or hypertension.
According to the Philippine Heart Association, normal blood pressure will fall under 120 over 80. This is the ideal blood pressure for people with lower risk of heart disease or stroke. The longer a person lets his blood pressure go high, the more it can cause irreversible damages to the body.
National Hypertension Awareness Month is a campaign to have your blood pressure checked but also to check other health risk factors such as blood sugar and cholesterol to ensure a healthy body.
Source: http://www.healthresearch.ph/index.php/news/499-celebrate-hypertension-awareness-month-this-may
