I’ve heard of several people, some closed to us, who have passed away because of hypertension. This All Soul’s Day, as we remember our loved ones, I thought might as well give some tips to prolong our lives. After all, we moms surely wish that we will live long enough to see our grand kids.
Good health starts at home, specifically in the kitchen. I found out that most of the vegetables which can help us lower cholesterol and prevent hypertension can be easily be sourced from our local markets. Most of them we can use as staple ingredients on the meals we cook. I admit that I am not that well-versed in cooking complicated meals but I am proud to say that I know my kitchen well when it comes to cooking healthy food for my family.
When you go to the market, try to find and include the following in your list if you want to lower you and your husband’s cholesterol.
Cabbage (Repolyo ) – it can be most beneficial when steamed and it has lots of antioxidants and fiber.
Carrots (Karot) – Did you know that eating 2 servings of carrots a day can lower bad cholesterol down to 20 percent?
Onion (Sibuyas) – Same as carrots, onions are so easy to include in our every day meals ( I always sautee with onions)
Soy Beans (Balatong) – The humble mongo is one kind of balatong. I usually cook mongo with ampalaya leaves paired with fried fish.
Tomatoes (Kamatis) – Slice tomatoes into little cubes, put some salt, chill it and serve with chicken or fried porkchop instead of the usual catsup.
What if you or any member of your family found out that they have high cholesterol already?
Actually, according to studies, more than 1.56 billion people worldwide are expected to have hypertension by 2025, making the disease more alarming to healthcare providers. However, most people diagnosed with the condition have no signs nor symptoms of the disease until they reach its life-threatening stages.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in every five adults with high blood pressure—a more general term for hypertension—is unaware of his or her disease, making prevention to deadly consequences such as stroke more difficult than ever.
“Hypertensive patients may experience frequent headaches, shortness of breath or nosebleeds, but these signs won’t occur until their blood pressure rises to its peak,” said Dr. Amado Nazal, medical director of Pharex HealthCorp. “When left untreated, their high blood pressure may cause them serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke.”
About eight out of ten people who had their first stroke are diagnosed with hypertension, which is responsible for worsening the quality of lives of some 14 million Filipinos, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
“You can have high blood pressure for many years without symptoms surfacing every now and then—what people don’t know is that the disease comes like a thief in the night,” Dr. Nazal said.
He added, “This makes regular monitoring of blood pressure all the more important. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important whether you are already hypertensive or not; the challenge comes recognizing the disease and taking action before it leads to stroke.”
Uncontrolled high blood pressure may trigger excessive pressure on a person’s artery walls, damaging the blood vessels and the body’s organs. This is why Pharex HealthCorp., the most prescribed unibranded generics, emphasizes the vital role of lifestyle change in keeping high blood pressure at bay.
Dr. Nazal said, “The first step to achieving lifestyle change is to set an appointment with your healthcare provider. If you suspect that you have hypertension, nothing comes more important than having your blood pressure checked to address it immediately.”
Furthermore, prioritizing lifestyle modifications such as quitting smoking and staying physically active will go a long way in preventing high blood pressure and its complications.
“Hypertension is both preventable and treatable, only if you follow the right treatment procedures as prescribed by your doctor,” he said. “When you’re at home, it is best to cut down on salt, eat a balanced diet, and avoid harmful use of alcohol. More importantly, taking your medication to curb hypertension will help you minimize it.”
For hypertensive adults, there is an abundance of high-quality medicines at very low prices that they need to adhere to. If patients will not comply with their medication, Dr. Nazal said that “their quality of life will pay the price.”
He concluded, “Non-compliance to your therapy will cost so much more. Once hypertensive patients learn how to control their blood pressure, it will be easier for them to go back to their normal lives without the fear of having stroke or other chronic diseases.”
