Fighting hypertension

AT age 76, I consider myself lucky to have survived critical attacks of hypertension over a score of years. I look back on this survival as a learning experience to share with the younger generation.

As confirmed by the Philippine Heart Association (PHA) in its 56th Annual Convention and Scientific Meeting on May 27, 2026, the sharpest increase in the prevalence of hypertension in the Philippines begins at age 30.

I have learned so much from my sister Azucena, a physician, that I am now in a position to relay the information to high-blood-pressure “beginners.”

When visiting a doctor for a blood pressure reading, you get two numbers that represent the pressures inside the major arteries at two critical times: during each actual heartbeat and between beats when the heart is relaxed. Each number corresponds to the height of the column of mercury, expressed in millimeters, on a sphygmomanometer.

Assume your blood pressure is measured at 120 over 80 (120/80), a normal blood pressure measurement. The first number, in this case 120, is the systolic pressure inside the large arteries of the body when the heart is ejecting blood. The second number, 80, represents the pressure between heartbeats.

A person with elevated systolic or diastolic pressure, or both, may have hypertension. A healthy person at rest should have a blood pressure below 140/90, especially when he has diabetes mellitus or coronary heart disease. Elevation of arterial pressure poses a major danger to the arteries themselves, as well as to the organs they serve, especially the heart, brain and kidneys.

How can hypertension damage the heart and arteries?

First, hypertension causes the heart to pump with greater force, resulting in hypertrophy, or thickened muscle, that may be unable to keep up with the increased blood pressure.

Second, hypertension damages arterial walls directly, causing them to become stiff and lose elasticity. Damage to the small arteries of the kidneys occurs as well, sometimes leading to kidney failure.

Third, arterial walls may weaken, leading to ballooning of the arteries, or aneurysms, typically of the aorta, the largest artery in the body, and the cerebral arteries in the brain.

Hypertension speeds up the process of atherosclerosis, which may block the arteries and trigger a heart attack.

When atherosclerosis blocks a carotid artery or vertebral artery, an ischemic stroke occurs.

Several risk factors contribute to high blood pressure. Fortunately, some of them are manageable. These are:

Weight: Those who are overweight are more likely to have higher blood pressure.

Salt: A diet high in salt causes some, but not all, people to develop higher blood pressure.

Alcohol: One to two drinks a day is OK, but regular, heavy alcohol use drives up blood pressure.

Sedentary lifestyle: Aside from its potential to raise blood pressure, inactivity also leads to weight gain, which contributes to high blood pressure.

Medications: Many prescription and over-the-counter drugs increase blood pressure, including oral contraceptives, steroids, anti-inflammatory drugs, nasal and oral drugs for colds, diet pills, certain antibiotics and some forms of antidepressants.

On the other hand, the unalterable conditions that raise the risk of developing high blood pressure include the following:

Heredity: High blood pressure runs in some families.

Age: High blood pressure becomes more common as you get older.

Other diseases: Persons with certain disorders, such as diabetes mellitus and abnormal blood fats, are more prone to hypertension.

I recently had the opportunity to ask Dr. Raul Banias, 69, the Iloilo provincial administrator, about what food he eats to keep off “maintenance drugs.”

“Fish, fruits, vegetables,” he quipped.

That jibes with a meal plan known to nutritionists as DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), a balanced, heart-healthy diet designed to help lower high blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease.

-oOo-

CONGRATS, MARICON

OUR good friend Maricon C. Garrido is doing well following her promotion as customer care manager at MORE Electric and Power Corporation.

With a keen focus on operational excellence, she directs departmental functions, ensures seamless customer service processes and empowers her team to deliver top-notch support.

Throughout her tenure, she has played a crucial role in implementing impactful projects, including the Bill Deposit Refund, New Lifeline Subsidy Program, E-billing Initiative and the MORE PowerUP mobile app — all designed to enhance customer experience and accessibility.

She is one of the many empowered women at MORE Power who answer the challenge of President/CEO Roel Z. Castro, who intentionally hires and promotes women executives and leaders as part of his core commitment to gender equality.

Until she transferred to MORE Power three years ago, Maricon had been working at ILECO 1.