Over 5,000 being treated for hypertension locally
Senior Medical Officer in the Ministry of Health, Dr Shaun Ramroop has announced that between 5,000 and 10,000 people are currently being treated for hypertension in the BVI.
To put that into perspective, those figures represent between 16 to 33 percent of the BVI’s entire population.
Dr Ramroop said the statistics are taken from the National Health Insurance.
He shared the statistics in observance of World Heart Day celebrated on September 29.
Dr Ramroop is reminding residents that hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which occurs when blood vessels leading to the heart and brain are affected by high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol.
“The disease process occurs when those blood vessels get blocked. When they get blocked, blood supply may be cut off to the heart or brain which can result in a heart attack or stroke,” Dr Ramroop said.
“Anyone who is over the age of 40 should have their blood pressure checked once a year. If you are at risk or have a family history you should start in your 30s. If you have any history of having problems with your kidney, chest pain, shortness of breath, or weakness or numbness of the body seek medical intervention immediately,” he advised.
The senior physician added that care is available at all of the health centres associated with the BVI Health Services Authority. “We provide screening for high blood pressure, treatment, follow up and dietician services,” he said.
Preventable diseases
Dr Ramroop further said that despite the seriousness of cardiovascular diseases, the community needs to know these illnesses are preventable.
Simple lifestyle changes he said including diet and exercise, consuming at least one pound of fruits and vegetables daily, drinking plenty of water, avoiding tobacco use and limiting alcohol use can reduce or prevent the effects of cardiovascular diseases.
Persons can learn more about cardiovascular diseases and what they can do to lower their risk by tuning into the BVIHSA report featuring Dr Ramroop on ZBVI on October 6 and 8 at 9 am.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
Yes, but COVID is the problem!!! Let’s not tighten up on the Supermarkets and the products they promote/sell to our people, let’s lock down the country and charge people for not wearing a f***ing mask. If you think Governments give a s**t about your health, think again. These so called COVID restrictions are all about power and nothing else. You can buy all the processed foods you want, eat all the fried food at the food vans with months old oil but don’t get caught without your mask guys! Stay safe! Ha!
Serious, I am surprised it is not more!
It is not COVID that is killing us, it is the stress (and all that comes with it) of a World driven completely mad by the elites (and media) seeking to solidify their power by any means necessary!
At first we were driven by media narrative and fear of an unknown enemy that seemed o have robbed us of our freedom to think and ability to question. We were told to cooperate and do as we were told. But now, the more we understand and the more we realize that COVID is here to stay, many are still all too willing to give up their freedom and civil liberties. At day’s end, the sad thing about all this is if we are looking for the guilty, we need only look in the mirror!
It is up to us as a country to stand back up, take the precautions necessary, or the leaders of our dear country will seek more and more to silence us, and demand our quiet obedience!
Well, that’s my humble opinion on the matter.
bruh
THE VIP GOT THE PEOPLE STRESSED OUT
Hypertension & diabetes pandemic world wide. No restrictions no outcry.
It’s called looking after yourself, eating healthy, limit soft drinks and exercise. Too many people here are obese and they seem to be happy with that. Their bodies on the other hand show a different story. Stop eating fried foods everyday! The NHI will be crippled in the years to come due to the BVI’s health issues.
VIP. Your end is coming. All u did is put more stress on the people during this pandemic times. No solution for the pandemic but let’s make more laws to get more money. No consideration for the people.