Doctors warn the public about the risks of hypertension.
To mark National Hypertension Awareness Day, the Aloysio de Castro State Institute of Cardiology (Iecac) is promoting an event open to the public in the southern zone of Rio de Janeiro.
Agency Brazil – To mark National Hypertension Awareness Day, the Aloysio de Castro State Institute of Cardiology (Iecac) is holding an event open to the public this Thursday, the 26th, at Praça da Cobal, in the Humaitá neighborhood, in the southern part of Rio de Janeiro. The aim of the event is to raise public awareness of all the harmful effects that high blood pressure can have on people's health, as well as other risk factors that can lead to cardiovascular diseases.
A team of approximately 20 professionals, including doctors, nurses, technicians, and psychologists from the institute, will be taking blood pressure and glucose measurements until 15 PM. They are also checking weight and abdominal circumference to complete the check-up. The Ministry of Health estimates that about 20% of the Brazilian population has hypertension.
According to cardiologist Rogério de Moura, a member of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology, hypertension is a silent disease, which is why taking preventive measures is so important. "The most important thing is prevention. The healthy habits recommended by the Brazilian Society of Cardiology include proper diets low in fat and salt, regular physical activity, and regular check-ups."
According to Moura, it is also necessary to avoid excessive alcohol consumption and to quit smoking. He says these are two habits that hinder treatment and increase the likelihood of the disease developing.
Rogério de Moura adds that parents need to pay more attention to their children's eating habits. "An unhealthy child is an adult with disease; this is exponential. The less prevention there is, the more disease there will be in the future," he emphasized.
Hypertension is a disease that raises blood pressure in the blood vessels and can compromise important organs such as the brain, heart, and kidneys. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one of the main consequences of uncontrolled hypertension is a reduction in life expectancy of 16 years.