We have been having a lot of exposition about hypertension in our recent posts. This is geared towards improving the knowledge, attitude and perception of our audience about hypertension. With all said and done, testimonies from survivors and people leading a healthy lifestyle with well controlled hypertension should go a long way in strengthening your resolve towards getting that long due blood pressure checkup, and give you a strong conviction that one can also overcome hypertension even if one is diagnosed with the disease. So today, we will be sharing a few true life stories from people’s experiences with hypertension.
Julius Okoli, a 39-year-old man, set out for his night shift as his usual practice on Friday. He particularly is an athletic individual as he had some game of football at his local recreational center the next Saturday morning. While playing football, he suddenly felt dizzy. He held on to the side walk to try to regain his balance, but to no avail. He was asked to lift his right hand, but he couldn’t. He was rushed to the hospital and was diagnosed of stroke secondary to hypertension. He was commenced on treatment and he recovered well from the event.
Prior to the event, Julius admitted avoiding hospitals, doctors or anything that had to do with medical checkup, reason his high blood pressure, a serious risk factor for stroke was not diagnosed early. Now, Julius has a sphygmomanometer at home to monitor his blood pressure and ensure it is under optimal control. He has also made lifestyle changes as he eats more fruits and vegetables unlike before, and he remains physically active. He counts himself lucky to still be fully functional after the stroke attack, as he can fend for his wife and two beautiful daughters. His advice is for everyone to get regular checkup irrespective of your age, as he now believes it could be a real life saver.
Mrs. Adekunle Cynthia is a 54-year-old banker, who suffered a stroke in 2015. Her husband had just lost his job when he was close to retirement and the stress of keeping the family up and running became so much for her. She recalls tidying up her desk at the closing hours of the day at work when her sight got blurry, and her speech became slurred. She had difficulty moving her left arm and foot when her colleagues at work noticed the sudden events and called for an ambulance.
On getting to the hospital, her blood pressure was 220/130mmHg a case of hypertensive crisis. She received medical treatment on admission for 4 weeks in the hospital, her rehabilitation took 2 months extra to regain full motor ability. She remains grateful for the help received from her work place, family, friends and medical team. She has gotten much better in control of her health by controlling her risk factors. She has also learned to deal with her emotion and stress, made modifications with her lifestyle and diet and leading a healthy life.
In retrospect, she says life happens but health remains wealth, and paying attention to our health remains paramount. She advises her friends and loved ones to get regular medical checkup and lead a healthy lifestyle.
So there you have it, in the society we find ourselves and all the pressure and stress that comes with it, it is important that we pay close attention to our health for the sake of our family and loved ones. The cost of prevention is far cheaper than the cost of complications that comes with hypertension, financially and in other ramifications. Some others have not been so lucky, as it is just one cardiac arrest event as a complication of hypertension and it is all over. Get your blood pressure checked today and advise friends and loved ones to do likewise, you might just be saving a life.