High consumption of salt exposes people to hypertension - Physician Assistant

Mr. Rocky Tettedzie, a Physician Assistant at the Pleasant Medical Centre, has reiterated the need to lower salt consumption as it poses a risk factor for the development of hypertension.

Mr. Tettedzie stated that hypertension is a major cause of premature death worldwide, with more than 600,000 people being diagnosed with hypertension in Ghana annually and about 46 percent of adults living with hypertension unaware of their status.

He noted that there is already a significant amount of salt in many food items in the form of sodium, yet many people still add high quantities of salt to their food, an act that increases one's vulnerability to hypertension, hence the need to consume salt in moderation.

Speaking at a preventive healthcare talk as part of the Ghana Journalists Association’s (GJA) 75th anniversary health screening in Tema, he stated that some preventive measures for hypertension include physical activities, avoiding alcohol intake, and smoking.

He further stated that the occurrence of hypertension increases with age and occurs more in males than females, with some risk factors being family history, smoking, obesity, and the intake of fatty foods.

"Irregular heartbeat, headache, chest pain, and vision changes are some signs of hypertension," he added.

The physician assistant encouraged people to engage in physical activities for at least 30 minutes three times a week and to seek early medical treatment when diagnosed with hypertension.

Mr. Tettedzie said hypertension can affect any part of the body, but before the damage becomes visible, it often becomes complicated.

He advised against the high intake of red meat when suffering from hypertension and recommended consuming more fish dishes instead.

He also recommended that alcohol lovers be cautious about their intake, as it serves as a risk factor not only for hypertension but also for non-communicable diseases.