Ghana: Understanding Hypertension - Why It Matters

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, has become a leading cause of preventable illness and death worldwide. In Ghana, approximately 3.7 million adults have hypertension, with nearly half of them unaware of their condition. Many people with hypertension only learn of their diagnosis after experiencing serious health events like strokes, heart attacks, or kidney damage.

Cardiology Fellow and Physician Specialist at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr. Florence Akumiah, explains that blood pressure is the force pushing blood through arteries, the vessels carrying oxygen and nutrients from the heart to various body parts. This pressure is essential for organs like the brain, kidneys, and heart to receive adequate blood flow.

Dr. Akumiah describes how high blood pressure, or hypertension, develops when the heart works harder to pump blood, the blood meets greater resistance in the arteries, or there is an excess of fluid in the body. When these factors cause blood pressure to rise beyond a healthy level, the risk of damage to vital organs also increases.

Several risk factors contribute to hypertension, particularly among young people and the elderly. These factors include biological aspects, lifestyle choices, and environmental or social conditions. Some biological factors, such as sex (men are at higher risk before women reach menopause, and women's risk increases after menopause), pregnancy-related hypertension, and genetic predisposition, are traits people are born with or naturally acquire with age. Lifestyle factors that people can modify to reduce their risk of hypertension include:

- Unhealthy diet

- Physical inactivity

- Excessive alcohol consumption

- Smoking

Environmental and social factors that may pose a risk include stress, poor air quality, and limited access to healthcare. Addressing these risk factors can help prevent or manage hypertension, ultimately reducing the likelihood of severe health complications.