Treat hypertension with risky herbal concoctions – Expert

Hope For Us Charity, Nigeria Regional Director, USA Dr Michael Ajidahun Talks To GODFREY GEORGE About Hypertension, Especially In Young People, And Its Cures

Is is hypertension the same as hypertension?

Basically hypertension is high blood pressure. There are measurement values ​​before it can be said that his blood pressure is high or low. Hypertension is when the number at the top is over 130 and the number below over 80. So when you check your blood pressure and the number is not 130/80, then you can say that one became hypertensive.

What could be causing this condition to cause a person’s blood pressure to be over 130/80?

There are a lot of things that can cause illness. We can start with the lifestyle. When the diet is too salty, this can also be a serious problem. If someone has a habit of smoking, that’s another risk factor. All of this can be subjected to an unhealthy lifestyle. Stress can also be a factor. People with problems with their internal organs, such as the kidneys, are also at risk for this condition. There is something in the neck of humans called the thyroid gland. If it becomes swollen, this can also be a factor. All of these can contribute to this condition.

It should also be noted that there are hypertension that occur and one cannot really trace the root cause of the disease. This can be due to some underlying conditions like diabetes.

Is it hereditary?

Yes, it is hereditary. Here is how it goes. We know that hypertension brings about the question of family risk. This means that if someone in your lineage has the disease, it can increase your chances of developing the disease over time as well. In a family where there is the condition, the offspring are most likely to develop the condition as well; it just increases the risk of having it. It is not essential that the offspring have it. What you need to do is change a lifestyle to be much healthier.

Can we call hypertension a disease?

Well yes. You can call it a disease. He presents himself as one.

You talked about an improved lifestyle for those people at high risk for disease. What exactly do you think they should do and / or not do?

The first thing is to watch your diet. Much of what we eat in this part of the world is very high in salt and fat. Anyone who wants a healthy lifestyle should not go this route if they want to live a healthy life. We have nutritionists and dietitians who can help you create special diets at special times and improve those things over time. Since salt increases your chances of having high blood pressure, it would be good if you cut back on salt. You don’t have to smear your entire meal with salt; that doesn’t even make it tastier. If the person is on the fat side, they may need to lose weight so as not to become obese. Obesity has also been seen as another condition which increases the chances of having the condition. Alcohol must go down. All forms of smoking must be eliminated – marijuana, cannabis, tobacco. No one should fool you by saying that someone is better than the other; they are the same and they are deadly. Changing the lifestyle is what is needed, basically. Eat healthier, exercise, and drink plenty of water. People underestimate the power of water. Drink plenty of water and you will feel refreshed and ready for the day’s activities.

How do you think low income families will be able to cope with this strict diet and lifestyle?

Dieting is not very cheap, but it is not expensive. In a country like Nigeria, where health care is not free, it is better to prevent a disease than to let it strike one. The rule still applies to everyone, rich and poor alike. If you’re rich I think you might even have more access to junk food and the like. Vegetables like pumpkin aren’t that expensive. Buy crayfish and fish and your meal is ready. It depends on how you want to live your life.

In addition, I would advise people to have regular check-ups, in order to begin management if the condition is detected. There are certain medications that one can take to help manage this disease because it has no permanent cure. At least there isn’t to my knowledge. Although these drugs can be expensive, they are needed to survive. This is one of the failures of the system that we have in Nigeria. Whether you are poor or rich, the protocol for treating and managing hypertension is the same. The lifespan of people with hypertension depends on how well they follow the doctor’s instructions. Another thing is that most of these low income people may not be able to join all of these lifestyle packages, and that can be a very sad thing. The rich may have a nutritionist, personal trainer, and dietitian, but the poor may not have that luxury.

Speaking of the poor, there are cheaper options for these “drugs” in traditional packaging, sold in major cities in Nigeria. Will they not be enough?

(Laughs) I don’t agree with the use of herbal concoctions and medicines. I don’t see the need for it. A lot of people can say that they have used it and it has worked. Well, these drug mixes have some medicinal content. The question now is, “Are you taking it in the right proportions and with the right mixture?” This is the problem. They are not quantified. You don’t know if you are taking too much or too little. Some can even kill you. I do not advise anyone to take these mixtures. We have seen a lot of Nigerians suffering from kidney and liver disease lately. What do you think is causing this? It is from herbal concoctions. Some can damage your heart and even your lungs. The logic of whether our ancestors used it or not is deeply flawed. We didn’t have enough technology to keep track of these things, which is why we thought it didn’t kill them. No one should hang out with these people who sell these colorful and toxic substances.

What symptoms do you think people should look out for to know they have high blood pressure?

First, hypertension is what we call a silent killer. It may not have any symptoms unless the person has organ problems. Sometimes when the blood pressure gets very high, the person may start to have a headache. Some may have chest pain. The person may start to hear their heartbeat – this is called palpitations. These are subtle signs that your blood pressure is rising. If one starts to have swollen legs and hands, this can also be an indicator. This means that the disease is already damaging one or two internal organs. Some have even had a stroke, most of the time it’s fatal. Everyone should try to have their kit at home and monitor their blood pressure. Someone can have a blood pressure of 160/90 and say, “Doctor, I feel so good. So how do you catch these people? You know how tough the economy is these days and not everyone wants to go to the hospital. But at least once every two weeks, find a pharmacy and get your blood pressure checked.

But based on the belief that what one fears has a way to catch up with, many people don’t feel comfortable going for exams when they have no obvious signs of illness.

It is a myth. This is not true. A lot of people say, “What I don’t know won’t kill me!” It’s a very risky thing to say in a country like this. Most people would rather not know it than take regular exams and know it. It’s not good. Checking your blood pressure all the time does not put you at risk for having blood pressure at all. It helps you do what to do to avoid getting higher than that.

You mentioned stress as a risk factor. What do you think of some young people who sit at home and do nothing, but have high blood pressure? Does worrying cause this condition?

This is called hypertension in young people. When a person between 0 and 45 years of age develops the disease, they fall into this category. Drug use, especially cocaine use, is a major problem. Young people who engage in drug addiction and substance abuse are at risk of developing the disease. Many young people have also become diabetics, some are obese. There is the question of family history, as I explained earlier. All of these factors explain why young people suffer from the disease. Young people should learn to work out, burn fat and sweat. It helps the body a lot. At this point your whole body is active and the blood is circulating very well. You need at least 30 minutes of exercise before you start your day.

For residents of cities like Lagos with high traffic, they really need to watch their blood pressure, due to the high pollution of the environment. Just walk from your domain to the other domain.

It’s also worth noting that there’s no way for anyone to be alive and not be thinking, but when your thoughts go into anxiety, it can all cause your blood pressure to rise. Also, you can’t just tag someone with high blood pressure from a single visit. You can be anxious just seeing a doctor. We call this “white coat hypertension”.

Does this anxiety with doctors lead to long-term hypertension or does it go away afterwards?

White coat hypertension is just one thing. It does not cause long-term hypertension; at least, no research has proven it. This increase in blood pressure does not mean that you are hypertensive. It’s also possible that a person with white coat hypertension could develop long-term hypertension. There is a possibility.

Is there a cure, especially for young people? Don’t you think people may have been misdiagnosed with hypertension when they had WCH?

High blood pressure has no cure, but it can be treated. If you start taking antihypertensive drugs as a result of a wrong diagnosis then the person will have to continue taking these drugs for life, so we all need to be very careful – both healthcare professionals and others. If you see that the blood pressure is under control then you withdraw for a while, but that does not mean the person is cured. It is something that lasts a lifetime and lasts a lifetime. You cannot just start treatment when you are not sure about the disease. Also, please take out health insurance. It’s not just for doctors. You’re gonna need it someday. Hypertension is not just for the elderly. Everyone must be vigilant.

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