Hypertension afflicts 7.6 M Pinoys — survey

Around 7.6 million Filipinos, or approximately 17.4 percent of the population, are now suffering from hypertension or high blood pressure, a survey showed.

Dr. Dante Morales, chairman of the National Nutrition and Health Survey (NNHeS) steering committee and former president of the Philippine Heart Association (PHA), said that 4,517 adults and 2,705 children in 2,636 households in 79 provinces nationwide were respondents in a medical survey.

"It’s really a good sampling of the Philippines," he said during the launching of Envacar, the first pill locally available to treat both high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

The report also showed that 8.5 million Filipinos have dyslipedemia or high cholesterol, presumably because rice is our staple food.

The survey was jointly conducted by the Department of Health (DOH), the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology and 14 other medical organizations led by the Philippine Heart Association, Philippine Lipid Society, Philippine Society of Hypertension and Philippine Diabetes Association.

These organizations reportedly contributed P5 million each for the project.

According to Morales, hypertension — a disease of the arteries that results from abnormally high blood pressure — is one of the risk factors for heart attack along with dyslipedemia, diabetes, obesity, smoking, depression and lack of exercise.

Germany topped the list of countries with a high prevalence of hypertension while the Philippines ranked 14th.

Morales added that the Bicol region registered the lowest prevalence rate for cholesterol and coronary artery diseases.

"We don’t know why, but maybe the studies pertaining to the negative effects of coconut are not true," he said. Bicolanos are fond of vegetables cooked in coconut milk like laing.

Western Visayas, meanwhile, has the highest hypertension prevalence rate in the country while Eastern Mindanao has the lowest.

Morales warned that combined hypertension and dyslipedemia is more fatal and debilitating and could lead to endothelial dysfunction.

Endothelial cells play an important role in the integrity and health of every tissue of the body. They line up blood vessels to prevent blood from leaking out.

According to Morales, hypertension and dyslipedemia should be managed properly through medication to prevent complications and to ensure a long and quality life for affected people.

Morales added that of the 7.6 million Filipinos estimated to have hypertension, only 37 percent currently receive treatment.

Filipinos, he said, tend not to comply with medical treatment if they are required to take more than one medicine a day.

Thus, he said it is better to prescribe one medicine that covers both treatment for hypertension and dyslipedemia.