National Hypertension Day: combating the disease involves joint, multidisciplinary work | Lighthouse

O National Day to Prevent and Combat High Blood Pressure, celebrated annually on April 26th, was established to raise awareness among the population about the care needed to combat and control the disease. This week, the Integrated Diabetes and Hypertension Center (CIDH), located in the Aldeota neighborhood, in Fortaleza, and which serves people from all over the State, promoted educational activities aimed at patients and companions on site.

The actions began this Wednesday, the 24th, and continued until this Friday, the 26th. The initiative was carried out by professionals from the Center, who provided details about the disease and treatment, performed exercises to promote cardiovascular health and explained the impact of foods with high salt levels.

Hypertension, popularly known as high pressure, is characterized by a high level of pressure in the blood vessels and can affect people of any age group. The disease can affect organs and cause other complications, such as heart attack, stroke and kidney problems.

The Vigitel 2023 Survey, carried out by the Ministry of Health, showed that, in Fortaleza, 24.8% of the adult population has a medical diagnosis of high blood pressure.

According to the CIDH nurse, Deysen Girão, specialist in Cardiovascular Nursing, the disease has no cure, however, with appropriate treatment, it is possible for the patient to have a good quality of life.

“It is a disease that needs control, it is part of chronic diseases. There is still no cure when diagnosed, but by taking appropriate measures, such as regular use of medications and adherence to physical activity and healthy eating, good control is possible, so that the disease does not affect health and quality of life. life”, he pointed out.

Although some people experience symptoms related to the disease, such as malaise and headache, hypertension is a disease considered silent. Therefore, it is important that the patient performs the regular medical follow-up and do the measuring blood pressureone of the main points raised by the IACHR campaign.

“Around 80% of people do not have any symptoms. What is necessary is a regular visit to the health professional and that this visit is accompanied by blood pressure measurement. Every time the patient goes to a consultation, we need to carry out this assessment to diagnose cases that do not have any symptoms early”, explained Deysen.

The person measuring blood pressure at the site was Maria de Fátima, 59 years old, who was diagnosed with hypertension four years ago. She says that, after discovering she was hypertensive, she made lifestyle changes, reducing her consumption of some foods and started walking.

She was at the Center, this Friday, the 26th, with Maria de Lurdes, 79 years old, who is also hypertensive. Maria de Lurdes stated that she follows up and uses the device to measure blood pressure at home. The elderly woman reported that she reduced her salt intake and had physiotherapy sessions, however, she had to stop after catheterization surgery.

Nurse Deysen Girão considers it important to self-measure blood pressure. During the action dedicated to National Hypertension Day, the Center also offered tips for patients to carry out the procedure at home.

“It is useful for patients who do not have the diagnosis, to try to track it early; but it is also useful for those who already have the diagnosis, so that we can make adjustments to the treatment”, added the professional.

FORTALEZA, CEARÁ, BRAZIL 04-26-2024: National day to prevent and combat high blood pressure. (Photo: Yuri Allen/ Special to O PEOPLE)
Credit: Yuri Allen/Special for O Povo

FORTALEZA, CEARÁ, BRAZIL 04-26-2024: National day to prevent and combat high blood pressure. (Photo: Yuri Allen/ Special to O PEOPLE)
Credit: Yuri Allen/Special for O Povo

FORTALEZA, CEARÁ, BRAZIL 04-26-2024: National day to prevent and combat high blood pressure. (Photo: Yuri Allen/ Special to O PEOPLE)
Credit: Yuri Allen/Special for O Povo

Hypertension: treatment and nutrition

O high blood pressure treatment It involves the regular use of medications, also called antihypertensives, in addition to healthy living strategies, such as healthy eating and regular physical exercise.

“Stress control, good quality sleep and rest are also factors that help. Healthy eating too, especially when controlling salt levels. One of the strategies involves controlling processed foods, which are industrialized foods that contain, in most cases, a high salt content. We should consume these foods in moderation, with a lot of restriction”, highlighted Deysen.

There, the specialist also offered strategies to reduce salt levels, such as using seasoned salt. The product was distributed on site and included coarse salt, rosemary, basil, thyme and oregano.

“One of the strategies to try to reduce salt is the addition of seasonings. Today, we are giving away samples of a seasoned salt […] By using seasonings, we can reduce the amount of salt needed to make food tastier. We will eat well, feeling a pleasant flavor, but with a reduced salt content,” he said.

FORTALEZA, CEARÁ, BRAZIL 04-26-2024: National day to prevent and combat high blood pressure. (Photo: Yuri Allen/ Special to O PEOPLE)
Credit: Yuri Allen/Special for O Povo

The professional also stated that the work carried out at the Center takes into account the nutrition education so that patients can make better choices.

“We cannot say to ‘cut out’ any food, because they are part of our culture, our lifestyle. What we can say is that they are alert foods, which cannot be part of the diet in the routine of hypertensive patients. They should be consumed in moderation and with a lot of restriction as they are rich in salt and affect the treatment and control of blood pressure”, he added.

Moacir Holanda, 69 years old, discovered that he had hypertension after tests. The retiree and artist said that he went on a diet to reduce excess salt and also takes medication for high blood pressure. In addition to measuring his blood pressure at home, the elderly man stated that he uses the device to measure his blood sugar, as he also has diabetes.

Joint and multidisciplinary work

During the three days of the action, the IACHR offered blood pressure and blood glucose assessments to the escorts of patients.

“We often focus on those who already have the disease and the person who brings the patient to the unit, who is there helping, who is part of this care, bringing them to appointments, is not seen”, emphasized nurse Deysen Girão .

From this, the professional pointed out that, in addition to multi-professionalwith doctors, nurses, nutritionists and physiotherapists, the work to combat hypertension involves the whole of society: “There is no way to work on hypertension without involving the family and society as a whole”.