World Hypertension Day: How is Rwanda faring in containing spread?
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Loading... - Chineye Maundu
- 18 May 2022
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May 17th of every year is dedicated to raising global awareness for hypertension and promoting its prevention. The disease is said to be one of the leading causes of cardiovascular diseases, morbidity, and mortality in Rwanda.
According to the World Health Organisation, blood pressure is the force exerted by circulating blood against the walls of the body’s arteries, the major blood vessels in the body. Hypertension is when blood pressure is too high.
Claudine Umulisa a nutritionist at Nutrisante Rwanda, says that hypertension is said to be a silent killer disease, and that is why it can be hard to immediately spot the symptoms or even diagnose them.
“Most people can have blood pressure and not be aware of it, and some even live with it without knowing, that is why everyone is always reminded to get a medical check-up often to at least check if there could be no possibility of having the disease,” she says.
She emphasizes that anyone can get blood pressure depending on their lifestyle or even the sensitivity of their bodies.
“There are people who are more vulnerable, especially those of old age, but it doesn’t mean that other people are insulated. We must therefore be mindful of the lifestyle we lead because virtually everyone is exposed,” she said.
Evariste Ntaganda the cardiovascular disease officer at Rwanda Biomedical Centre, says that hypertension is one cardiovascular disease and one of the causes of morbidity and mortality in the country.
The prevalence of hypertension in Rwandans is 15.9 per cent according to Ntaganda, high blood pressure when not screened early can cause heart failure, and stroke, and can affect kidneys, vision, and veins. Read More...
