PHA holds biggest BP screening in AsPac

A total of 101,340 participants from key cities across the country participated in the nationwide blood pressure screening dubbed Presyon Ko Alam Ko, Presyon Ko Alaga Ko last Feb. 11.

The massive turnout made the event the biggest BP screening held in the country and is believed to be the biggest ever BP screening in the Asia-Pacific region.

The current Guinness record is held by United Kingdom with a total of 127,573 individuals participating in the event.

Spearheaded by the Philippine Heart Association (PHA), in collaboration with the Vice Mayors League of the Philippines and Therapharma, a division of Unilab, the campaign primarily aimed to raise the awareness of Filipinos on the importance of monitoring one’s blood pressure (BP).

From 7 a.m. to 12 noon, participants from the 400 identified sites nationwide gathered at the nearest blood pressure screening site to have their BP checked. Health personnel were trained by PHA members nationwide on the proper technique to check the blood pressure.

The Mandaluyong City Hall served as the main satellite of the event in Metro Manila. Hyping the BP awareness campaign was Kapitan Presyon, the official campaign mascot and the newest ally of patients in fighting hypertension.

PHA vice president and Heart Month 2007 chairman Dr. Efren Vicaldo urged the public to make the fight against hypertension a top priority.

Vicaldo and other PHA officers emphasized that complications of high blood pressure can be prevented if the BP is adequately controlled.

He also stressed the importance of screening one’s blood pressure in detecting hypertensive patients who have no symptoms. These individuals may never suspect that they have high blood pressure.

Studies show that the majority of hypertensive patients are perfectly asymptomatic and the presence of symptoms may already reflect significant damage to the vital organs such as the heart, kidney and the brain.

According to a study conducted by the PHA, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the top causes of death in the country, with hypertension as one of the primary causes.

The alarming fact is that the number of possible hypertensives rises yearly, with an estimated seven million Filipinos already affected by it. Regular monitoring of one’s BP can help prevent heart diseases and could help stem the tide of the CVD menace.

Therapharma general manager John Dumpit advised the people to be more "BP-conscious." He also thanked the organizers of the big event for making Therapharma a partner in the undertaking.

Such a project is in line with the company’s commitment to help in the early detection and sustained treatment of patients with chronic cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and cholesterol problems, he said.