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Being excerpts of a lecture delivered by DR. J. U. Enumah at various NNPC locations in Lagos during celebration of this year’s “World Hypertension Day”
INTRODUCTION:
1} Obesity is a major Public Health problem of today.
2} A recent research finding identified two major lifestyle-related epidemics that are intricately linked:
3} an epidemic of obesity and an epidemic of inactivity because multiple interactions exist between lack of physical activity and obesity
4} According to the WHO expert committee on health (1950), health is defined as a state of physical, mental and social wellbeing; and not merely the absence of disease.
5} Therefore, anyone who is obese cannot be considered healthy.
WHAT IS OBESITY:
1} Obesity is defined as a body weight greater than 20% of normal weight for height.
2} The World Health Organization has formulated an index for defining obesity. Known as the body mass index (BMI),
3} it is based on a person’s height in meters and weight in kilograms: BMI = weight in kilograms (height in meters)
CAUSES OF OBESITY
1} Obesity is caused by a an interplay of many factors including excessive energy intake (food),
2} insufficient energy output (exercise, low resting metabolic rate, genetic predisposition, low fat
oxidation rate, low sympathetic activity,
3} low plasma leptin level, environment favouring weight gain, psychological stressors and lower
socioeconomic status which are risk factors.
4} Many of these risk factors result from unhealthy lifestyles:
5} linked to urbanization, starts in childhood and youth, mass advertising and social pressure.
6}Simply implies excess intake of calories more than
the body can use.
7} These are converted to fat and stored. People whobecome obese as infants apparently build excess fat cells;
8} Those who become obese as adults do not build new cells but merely expand existing ones. So
people who are obese from infancy will have difficulty losing weight no matter the motivation
DANGERS OF OBESITY
1} Heart Diseases. Excess weight will lead to accumulation of cholesterol which in turn narrows
small blood vessels of the heart leading to heart attacks.
2} Males stand a higher chance than females.
3} Gall Bladder Diseases. Twice as common in fat as in slim people.
4} Women are five times more affected than men. In fact, any female above forty, who is fair and fat and enjoys a fatty diet, is a strong candidate.
5} Gout and Osteoarthritis. The weight-bearing joints such as the hip, the knee and the ankle begins to complain after they carry excess weight for too long.
6} Early Death. Studies confirm that people die younger as they grow fatter.
7}Other conditions linked to overweight and obesity include cancer, constipation,
Appendicitis, hiatus hernia, varicose veins and haemorroids (pile).
HYPERTENSION
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Hypertension is the presence of abnormally raised blood pressure in an individual. |
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It is a progressive cardiovascular syndrome associated with target organ damage, often present before high BP values are observed |
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Hypertension also known as High blood pressure, HBP is the most common cardiovascular disease. |
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If you have HBP, you’ll probably find out about it during a routine checkup. |
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Or, you may have noticed a problem while taking your own blood pressure. |
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But be sure to see your doctor for a definite diagnosis |
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About 1 in every 4 American adults has high blood pressure, also called hypertension, which is a major risk factor for heart and Kidney diseases, stroke
and heart failure |
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In Nigeria prevalence is 15-20% in rural and urban settings respectively |
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In NNPC Lagos 18.2% of the Staff are Hypertensive |
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High blood pressure is especially dangerous because it often gives no warning signs or symptoms. |
DEFINITION OF KEY WORDS
BLOOD PRESSURE refers to the force of blood pushing against artery walls as it courses through the body.
1} Like air in a tire or water in a hose, blood fills arteries to a certain capacity.
2} Just as too much air pressure can damage a tyre or too much water pushing through a garden hose can damage the hose,
3} High blood pressure can threaten healthy arteries and lead to life-threatening conditions such as heart disease and stroke
4} A blood pressure reading appears as two numbers.
5} The first and higher of the two is a measure of systolic pressure, or the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats and fills them with blood.
6} The second number measures diastolic pressure, or the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats
7} Normal blood pressure rises steadily from about 90/60 at birth to about 120/80 in a healthy adult
8} Systole or diastole????
9} Historically, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) has been considered the most important marker for hypertension
10} However, raised systolic blood pressure (SBP) represents a greater risk than raised DBP
11} Raised SBP without significantly raised DBP is termed isolated systolic hypertension (ISH)
12} Consistently high blood pressure forces the heart to work
far beyond its capacity.
13} This can injure blood vessels, hypertension can damage the brain, eyes, and kidneys.
14} People with blood pressure readings of 140/90 or higher, taken on at least 2 occasions, are said to have high blood pressure or Hypertension.
15} If the pressure remains high, your doctor will probably begin treatment.
16} People with blood pressure readings of 200/120 or higher need treatment immediately.
17} People with diabetes are treated if their blood pressure rises above 135/80, since they already have a high risk of heart disease
18} Many people with high blood pressure don’t realize they have the condition.
19} Indeed, hypertension is often called “the silent killer” because it rarely causes symptoms, even asit inflicts serious damage to the body.
20}Left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to vision problems, as well as to heart attack, stroke, and other potentially fatal conditions, including kidney failure.
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