Are you at-risk of hypertension?

According to the results of the 2008 National Nutrition Survey (NNS) conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST), 25.3 percent of adults 20 years old and above are hypertensive based on a single visit blood pressure (BP).

Prevalence of hypertension increased significantly from 22.5 percent in 2003 to 25.3 percent in 2008, the survey further revealed.

Hypertension is a major risk factor for developing heart diseases like congestive heart failure due to a malfunctioning compartment of the heart leading to its enlargement and atherosclerosis or the narrowing of arterial walls due to cholesterol deposit. Heart diseases can lead to death, if not properly managed.

So why are we becoming hypertensive? There are a number of risk factors that can lead to the development of hypertension.

Lifestyle risk factors include being overweight or obese, lack of exercise, smoking, excessive alcohol drinking and high intake of salty foods.

People who are overweight or obese are more likely to develop hypertension because for each additional pound of fat, opening of blood vessels become narrower, making the heart work harder to deliver blood all over the body.

According to the 2008 NNS, 26.6 percent of adults are overweight or obese based on body mass index (BMI).

The rate of overweight or obesity is increasing at 0.67 percentage points per year. This increasing trend is a contributing factor to the increasing percentage of adults with hypertension.

Physical activity helps in improving heart function and healthy arteries. However, Filipinos generally have low physical activity, based on the results of 2008 NNS. 

The 92.7 percent of Filipinos have low leisure-related physical activity, 94.5 percent have low travel-related physical activity, 75.4 percent have low non-work related physical activity, and lastly, 76.3 percent have low work-related physical activity.

Smokers are also at high risk because smoking can immediately increase blood pressure and can also damage the artery walls.

About 31.0% of adults aged 20 years old and above are smokers, based on the 2008 NNS. There was a decrease in the percentage of smokers from 35.2 percent in 2003 to 31.0 percentage in 2008.

Alcohol drinking in excessive amounts can increase blood pressure. Based on the results of the 2008 NNS, 26.9% of Filipinos are alcohol drinkers. This percentage already decreased compared to 53.0 percent in 2003.

High intake of sodium in the diet can cause the blood to retain more water as a result it increases blood pressure, especially among salt sensitive individuals. The normal range of sodium in the diet of Filipinos is 2800 to 6000 milligrams. This is equivalent to 7 to 15 grams of salt but other foods may also contain sodium. 

The increasing trend of overweight and obesity, low physical activity and the high percentage of smokers, alcohol drinkers and high salt intake can all contribute to the increasing prevalence of hypertensive Filipinos.

Other factors that contribute to the development of hypertension include age, gender and family history.

People over age 35 are more at-risk. The prevalence of hypertension is peaking at age 40-49, according to the 2008 NNS.

More males are at-risk than females. This is evident in the results of the 2008 NNS, indicating more males are hypertensive at 29.1 percent compared to women at only 22.2 percent.

 Being hypertensive also runs in the family. If there is a history of hypertension in the family, a person becomes more at-risk.

In fighting hypertension, we need to remember message number eight and ten of the Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos (NGF) developed by a team of experts led by the FNRI-DOST.

Message number eight of the NGF states: “Use iodized salt but avoid excessive use of salt”.

Filipinos are encouraged to always use iodized salt, as it helps in reducing the rate of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD). But excessive use of salt can also contribute to the development of hypertension for at-risk individuals.

Message number ten of the NGF states: “For a healthy lifestyle and good nutrition, exercise regularly, do not smoke and avoid drinking alcoholic beverages”.

Exercise regularly at least thirty minutes a day, three to five times a week.

Limit your alcohol drinking to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.

One alcohol drink is equivalent to one and a half ounce of distilled beverage such as gin or twelve ounce or a bottle of beer or four ounces of wine or half glass wine of or an ounce of 100 proof whiskey.

We need to practice message number ten to avoid lifestyle diseases such as hypertension and the heart diseases that goes with it.

So, are you at-risk? What will you do about it?

For more information on food and nutrition, contact:  Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Director, Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology, General Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City; Tel/Fax Num:  8372934 and 8373164; email: mvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph, mar_v_c@yahoo.com; FNRI-DOST website: http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph. Celina Ann Z. Javier, FNRI-DOST S & T Media Service