Without The Whitecoat
Taking hypertension for granted
The ordinary Filipino will always think that a blood pressure reading of 140/90 mm is normal because he felt no dizziness or headaches, symptoms of high blood pressure. There are blood pressures that reach the 200/100 levels wherein the patients are asymptomatic.
A lot still think that if they are active basketball players, they are saved from the disease.
Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus are diseases that have to be addressed by lifestyle modification --- change in diet and the inclusion of exercise.
We see cases of hypertension on people as young as 30 years old.
Anyway, my focus would be on the high blood pressure in the case of applicants for overseas work or for seafarers.
A lot of applicants for overseas work are shocked to find that they have blood pressure. They think that the physician can bring the pressure down immediately, not realizing the consequences of such intervention. To the applicant, he or she wants to have that blood pressure controlled because in 10 days, he or she is leaving.
Well, who created that high blood pressure in the first place? The gluttonous meal three times a day while dry-docking and the number of alcohol consumed while onboard the ship.
The need to correct the blood pressure immediately carries complications like hypotension or cardiac arrest. The seaman applicant wants a fastfood remedy so he or she could be medically cleared for travel. If the background of the physician is questionable, we will surely have many cases of misdiagnosed hypertension.
We see a possible rise in the cases of hypertension in the maritime industry because some were misinformed that a blood pressure of 140/80 is normal.
To seafarers and OFW, love yourselves. Look at the faces of your children who badly need your support.
Control of blood pressure should take time in ambulatory cases with follow up from your friendly family physician. Remember that a heart disease can cause serious problems if not treated. The biggest risks of these patients are heart attack and stroke. We should also remember that the more risk factors that we have, the greater our chances of having a heart disease.
If you have high blood pressure, your heart has to work harder which will place an added strain to it. Overtime, it makes the heart bigger and weaker. It will also increase the chances of stroke and heart attack.