In line with its vision of ‘working together for a healthier world’, Pfizer NEAR yesterday restated its commitment towards ensuring that Nigerian population is taken care of especially in the area of cardiovascular medicine.

The World Hypertension Day is celebrated globally on May 17 of every year. The World Hypertension Day, WHD was first inaugurated in May 2005 by the World Hypertension League and has become an annual event ever since.

The purpose of the WHD is to promote public awareness of hypertension and to encourage citizens of all countries to prevent and control this silent killer, the modern epidemic. The theme of this year’s WHD is “Healthy Lifestyle- Health Blood Pressure”

Hypertension, a cardiovascular medical condition can also be called high blood pressure and it is a condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is elevated to a level likely to induce cardiovascular damage or other adverse consequence.

Blood pressure is the measurement of the force applied against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood through the body. The normal blood pressure is about 120/80, where 120 represent the systolic measurement (peak pressure in the arteries) and 80 represents the diastolic measurement (minimum pressure in the arteries). Blood pressure between 120/80 and 139/89 is called pre-hypertension (to denote increased risk of hypertension), and a blood pressure of 140/90 and above is considered hypertension.

There are several risks factors that have been associated with the condition and these include; smoking, obesity, diabetes, sedentary lifestyle, high level of salt intake, stress, aging, high level of alcohol consumption, chronic kidney disease, genetics and a family history of hypertension, but to mention a few.

According to Dr. Kodjo Soroh, Medical Director Pfizer NEAR, “this silent killer is on high rampage because, people with this condition do not usually exhibit symptoms and if untreated, it damages the arteries and vital organs in the body; and this ignorance can last for years.” For this reason he advises that blood pressure screenings should be done periodically.

In a bid to further strengthen its position as the market leader in Cardiovascular Medicine, Pfizer NEAR recently inaugurated a Cardiovascular Summit Faculty Board. This board is made up of eminent Medical Practitioners, past speakers and facilitators at previous annual cardiovascular summits.