Press Release/5 April 2013: Health Secretary Enrique T.

Ona today reminded Filipino adults to have their blood pressure measured regularly as the Philippines joins the celebration of World Health Day on April 7 to raise awareness and call for individual actions on addressing high blood pressure with the battlecry, BP: Alamin at Kontrolin.

World Health Day is celebrated globally on April 7 every year to mark the anniversary of the founding of World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948. Each year, a theme is selected to highlight a priority area of public health concern in the world, and this years focus is on controlling high blood pressure, which is a risk factor for fatal heart attacks, debilitating strokes, and chronic heart and kidney disease. Raised blood pressure is known to cause around half of all deaths from stroke and heart disease.

Sec. Ona said, Detecting high blood pressure is the first step in preventing and controlling it; when people know their blood pressure level, they can take steps to control it.

It is known that 25% of Filipino adults, or about 14 million of current adult population, have high blood pressure. It is believed that a large majority of them are not accessing adequate health care, and as people often have no symptoms and unaware of their high blood pressure and associated health risks, many causes often are undiagnosed. Many who are diagnosed often do not have access to treatment, and their conditions not adequately controlled.

Heart disease and stroke remains the leading causes of mortality, comprising 35% of total deaths, among Filipinos. Philippine Health Statistics data show that in 2009, about 167,000 Filipinos died from heart disease and stroke. Half of these tragic deaths are likely related to high blood pressure.

An analysis done by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) further reveals that 34% of all cardiovascular deaths are happening prematurely or at age below 60 years, ending the life of many Filipinos during their supposedly most productive years. This has implications to labor, productivity, and economic development.

Sec. Ona also emphasized the need to tackle other risks for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), in addition to high blood pressure. He said, Addressing high blood pressure should be addressed with the other risk factors under the total risk approach for managing NCDs. This is because that NCD risks factors add up, and the health consequences of high blood pressure can be compounded by tobacco use, unhealthy diet, harmful use of alcohol, lack of physical activity, as well as obesity, high cholesterol and diabetes. The presence of multiple risk factors will more alarmingly increase the odds of heart attack and stroke for affected individuals.

On April 8, the Department of Health (DOH), in collaboration with WHO Philippines Office and the Philippine Coalition for the Prevention and Control of Noncommmunicable Diseases (PCPCNCD or NCD Coalition), will celebrate World Health Day 2013 with a scientific symposium on controlling hypertension and reducing salt consumption at Bayleaf Hotel, Intramuros, Manila. The event seeks to underscore the need for joint efforts to address the problem of hypertension, also called high blood pressure, as a major risk for cardiovascular death among Filipinos. Various government and nongovernment partners, including members from academic and research institutions, health professional groups, media, and civil society will participate in the celebration.

Dr Susan Mercado, Acting WHO Representative in the Philippines, says High blood pressure is preventable and treatable; controlling high blood pressure, together with other risk factors, is the main way to prevent heart attack and stroke. Dr. Mercado further emphasized that controlling high blood pressure is an important step to achieving the global target of a 25% reduction in premature death from NCDs by 2025.

Dr Rachael Marie Rosario, chair of the NCD Coalition, on the other hand said, People can cut the risks of high blood pressure. They should be encouraged to consuming less salt, eat a balanced diet, engage in regular physical activity, and avoid tobacco and harmful use of alcohol.