LHS Nanyuki: Nutritional Education Saves Lives Of Patients With HBP
Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a common non-communicable disease that has become a major global public health challenge. According to the WHO, one in every four adults has high blood pressure and the figure is expected to rise from 25% to 29% by 2025. In Kenya, hypertension is reported to be more prevalent in the central region, as reflected at LHS Nanyuki, Medical Outpatients' Clinic (MOPC), which records a high number of hypertension patients residing not only in Laikipia County but also from neighboring Meru and Nyeri counties.
Hypertension is also known as the ' silent killer' disease. If left untreated, the disease can progress silently until it causes chronic complications such as heart failure, stroke, and chronic kidney disease.
In addition to clinical management, the alarming increase in the number of hypertension cases calls for nutritional education as a major intervention to help manage the disease. Every Thursday, which is hypertension clinic day at LHS Nanyuki, nutritionists take the time to educate patients about the disease and advice them on the proper interventions to prevent further complications.
Apart from genetic factors, individuals' kinds of lifestyles can predispose them to hypertension. Excessive consumption of alcohol, reduced physical activity and the adoption of unhealthy diets high in salt, refined sugar, processed proteins, and unhealthy fats and oils can all cause high blood pressure.
Grace Njuguna, Clinical Nutritionist noted.
During the omission of counseling sessions, patients' questions are promptly answered, and they are urged to apply the knowledge acquired to live healthily. DASH-Approach (Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension) and lifestyle modifications are recommended as effective ways to control the disease.
We should always be mindful of what we eat, where we eat when we eat, and how we eat.
Ms. Njuguna said. You would rather spend an extra coin on eating healthy and managing the disease than on treating incurable complications caused by HBP.
she added.
The impact of nutritional education at the outlet has been observed as the number of people admitted as a result of severe hypertension conditions has decreased. The majority of patients' attitudes have shifted from denial to acceptance of their conditions, which is the first critical step to treating the disease.
Nancy Wanjiku, a hypertension patient, has been attending her clinics at LHS Nanyuki since 2016. She testified that her condition has remained stable over the years as a result of healthy eating and taking her medications as prescribed.
