The Nasarawa State Government has raised concern over the increasing cases of hypertension sufferers in the state.
Dr John Damina, Permanent Secretary (PS) Ministry of Health stated this at a press briefing to commemorate the 2024 World-Hypertension Day which was observed in Lafia on Friday
According to him, the Ministry was worried because hypertension, known commonly as high blood pressure (BP) has no symptoms but, can lead to serious health complications if left untreated.
The Oermanent Secretary explained that members of the public especially civil servants and business people should go for regular checks to know their status.
“Everyone is encouraged to know his or her BP numbers or figures and seek prompt intervention if there is a deviation from the normal in order to live longer.
“Knowing your status will also help you adopt a healthy lifestyle such as eating balanced diet, regular exercise and managing stress,” he added.
Damina further called on members of the public to monitor their BP regularly, especially those with risk factors such as family history, obesity, or sedentary lifestyle.
“Early detection of high blood pressure allows for timely intervention and reduces the risk of heart diseases, stroke, and other related conditions,” he said.
The PS further that the press briefing was aimed at creating awareness to enable the public make informed decisions so as to reduce the Prevalent rate and the disease burden in the state.
The Permanent Secretary therefore added that as part of activities marking the day, the State Government conducted
“Those found to be hypertensive will be referred to medical facilities in the state for medication,” he added.