Hypertension is a significant health issue in Ghana and a leading factor in both hospital admissions and fatalities. In reality, the numbers are dismal, and health officials are extremely concerned.
According to the Ministry of Health (MoH), hypertension is the second most common reason for outpatient morbidity among adults over 45. It also causes more than two-thirds of all medical admissions to the top teaching hospitals and more than 50% of all fatalities nationwide.
A silent killer if not treated, hypertension is said to impact 35% of the population, with many more affected individuals ignorant of their condition or going undetected.
A condition known as hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure (BP), is one in which the blood arteries consistently experience high pressure.
The heart needs to work harder to pump blood when blood pressure in the blood arteries is higher.
Since many African nations suffer with both communicable and non-communicable diseases, the challenge is not unique to Ghana alone. In contrast to claims made about BP in African societies throughout the first half of the 20th century, figures made today indicate that more than 40% of adults in various regions of Africa are hypertensive.
Uncontrolled and untreated hypertension is a major cause of avoidable deaths and disability from cardiovascular illnesses, according to the Ghanaian Society of Cardiology (GSC).
Stroke, heart, and kidney disease are important non-communicable and cardiovascular diseases, and the GSC blames the high national burden to, among other things, gaps in treatment and diagnosis.
While attempts to control prevalence continued, the society recently emphasized the urgent need to re-strategize to diagnose all instances of hypertension for proper care to avoid additional needless deaths and disabilities.
Although hypertension control is achieved through effective and ongoing treatment, official figures in Ghana show that only 36 out of every 100 diagnosed individuals are currently taking their medications, which alone indicates a possible significant roadblock in access to and availability of treatment.
The MoH must make sure that education on BP is carried out, even if it means going door to door or by any other means, in order to assist in preventing the harmful effects of BP, such as stroke, heart disease, and renal illnesses.
People need to be taught on healthy living in this day and age, when fast food restaurants can be found on every corner in the capital and other major areas.
Given that the diet in rural areas mostly consists of fresh green vegetables and tubers, among other nutritious items, it is not surprising that hypertension is more common in urban areas than in rural areas.
Research on the efficacy of the interventions is necessary, in our opinion, at the policy level.
The time has also come for the health authorities to involve community and opinion leaders, religious organizations, non-governmental organizations, and civil society organizations in the health sector to encourage Ghanaians to adopt healthy lifestyles and reduce the high prevalence of this silent killer.
We agree with recommendations from health professionals for a review of the country's present adoption of the hypertension guidelines in order to improve planning and execution.
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Health and Fitness