Hypertension is considered as the number one contributing risk factor for global deaths, causing strokes, heart attacks, and other cardiovascular complications. The month of May is declared as the “National Awareness Month” to prevent and control this disease.

The Philippine Council for Health Research and Development is one with the International Society of Hypertension and the Department of Health in celebrating the national awareness month to raise consciousness and to encourage citizens of all countries to counter this modern epidemic.

#KnowYourNumbers

This year’s theme for the hypertension awareness campaign is #KnowYourNumbers which aims to enhearten everyone to have their blood pressure checked and measured. The proportion of strokes in younger adults is rising each year and it is mainly caused by high blood pressure or hypertension, public health agencies urge the public to know your number regardless of age.

According to the Philippine Heart Association, normal blood pressure will fall under 120 over 80. This is the ideal blood pressure for people with lower risk of heart disease or stroke. The longer a person lets his blood pressure go high, the more it can cause irreversible damages to the body.

National Hypertension Awareness Month is an opportunity not only to campaign to have your blood pressure checked but also to check other health risk factors such as blood sugar and cholesterol to ensure a healthy body.

Research on Hypertension

PCHRD supports studies that are aligned with National Unified Health Research Agenda (NUHRA). Some of the researches on hypertension are being conducted under NUHRA priority areas such as Tuklas Lunas and OMIC Technologies for Health Research and Development.

The Tuklas Lunas Program is the Council’s program on drug discovery and development from the natural resources of the country. For the herbal track of the program, 28 plants such as malunggay are currently undergoing formulation and standardization studies for hypertension and other diseases.  For drug track, 10 plants for hypertension are undergoing isolation and purification activities to identify active compounds.

On the other hand, Omics focuses on using omic technology platforms in developing local technologies which can lead to the development of personalized healthcare and as support to clinical practice guidelines and policies in the country. Significantly, the program on “Genomic Researches on Hypertension, Coronary Artery Disease and Dyslipidemia towards the Development of Individualized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Strategies” has produced an initial list of genes indicating specific drug response of Filipino patients to selected medications against cardiovascular diseases.

Raising Consciousness

Hypertension Awareness Month is also celebrated alongside the international campaign for May Measurement Month which is an initiative to screen millions of people who have not had their blood pressures measured.

The Council encourages everyone to maintain a healthy body in order to avoid developing hypertension and to #KnowYourNumbers by visiting your doctors regularly and by checking your BPs. This will help people to live a better life that is free from hypertension.