The Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) has called upon citizens and residents to take practical steps in order to reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure.

A healthy lifestyle is one of the steps to follow to reduce the risk of high blood pressure. You can do so by reducing salt intake to less than 5 grams a day, eating five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, and reducing the consumption of total and saturated fat.

Additionally, exercising for at least 30 minutes a day can also reduce the risk of high blood pressure.

Other steps include maintaining a normal weight, avoiding tobacco, overcoming stress in a healthy way, in addition to obtaining the support of the family doctor.

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— مؤسسة الرعاية الصحية الأولية (@PHCCqatar) May 17, 2021

Dr. Mohammed Al Tamimi, Specialist in family medicine at PHCC's University Health Care said that high blood pressure is a common disease and usually has no symptoms.

He pointed out that the main way that leads to high blood pressure is to increase the workload on the heart and blood vessels, which makes them work with the greatest effort and the least efficiency.

Dr. Al Tamimi mentioned that the discovery of high blood pressure depends on reading blood pressure measurements, as it can be controlled by following a healthy lifestyle and taking medicines if necessary, and cautioned that the higher the blood pressure, the greater the risk of damage to the heart and blood vessels in major organs such as the brain and kidneys.

It must be emphasized that hypertension is one of the most preventable causes of heart diseases and strokes, and if hypertension is left uncontrolled, it can lead to a heart attack, an enlarged heart, and eventual heart failure, he added.

The health consequences of high blood pressure can also be complicated by other factors that increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure, including tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, exposure to constant stress, as well as obesity, high cholesterol, and diabetes.

All adults should measure their blood pressure periodically as a precautionary measure. It is necessary for them to know their numbers, and if it is high they seek medical advice as soon as possible.

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