SALTED eggs, salted fish, pickled fruit and seasoning cubes - many of us can't seem to live without these. Unfortunately, it's such foods that lead to an increase in hypertension. According to the Malaysian Society of Hypertension, high consumption of salt is the cause of hypertension in three of 10 adults.

Hypertension can be reduced with less salt intake and one way to do so is to avoid fast food, canned food and using less salt in our cooking.

Cardiovascular physician and professor of medicine, Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman, says studies have shown that hypertension can be reduced with less salt intake and one way to do so is to avoid fast food, canned food and using less salt in our cooking.

"We now see people in their 30s and 40s suffering from stroke or heart attack with hypertension being a major contributory factor"

"There is an easier and cheaper way to prevent hypertension - by changing our lifestyle and reducing salt intake, watching our weight and exercising regularly.

"If we take the recommended levels of less than 10g of salt per day, we can reduce risks of hypertension and stroke."

He says there are no early symptoms and that some people only find out that they have hypertension when they suffer stroke or heart attack.

"When told they have hypertension, they will say that they do not suffer from headaches, which they think is an indication of the illness. But when you have headaches, it usually means the condition is already quite serious. It is important for people in high-risk groups to go for screening because hypertension can be prevented and controlled."

He says that over the last 10 years, the prevalence of hypertension among those 30 years and above has increased from 33 per cent in 1996 to 43 per cent in 2006.

"We now see people in their 30s and 40s suffering from stroke or heart attack with hypertension being a major contributory factor.

"In the last 10 years, little has changed in terms of controlling and making the public aware of hypertension. People who are at risk are not seeing their doctors to check their blood pressure and those who have been diagnosed are not taking medications to control their condition."

Obesity and hypertension

Abdul Rashid, a former president of the Malaysian Society of Hypertension, says a national survey showed that Malay women have the highest prevalence of hypertension and this could be due to an increase in obesity rates.

The prevalence of obesity in the country has also increased dramatically over the last 10 years, he says.

"People who have a family history of hypertension should check their blood pressure at least once every six months once they reach the age of 30. Others should do it once a year.
Some hypertensives refuse to take their medication because they think they have to do so for the rest of their lives or they may develop serious side effects to the drugs.

"Another problem is that some people like to change doctors. They keep seeing different doctors until they find one who says they don't need to take medication."

According to Abdul Rashid, some hypertensives refuse to take their medication because they think they have to do so for the rest of their lives or they may develop serious side effects to the drugs.

"They must realise that when they have been prescribed medication, it is not only for lowering blood pressure per se but also to reduce the risk of developing life-threatening complications such as stroke, heart attack and kidney failure. Heart attack and stroke are the two leading killers in the country."

However, he says not all hypertensives need medication.

If a person's blood pressure is at 146/86 and he does not have other risk factors, then there is no need for medication.

A change of lifestyle will suffice.

However, if he is obese, a smoker, has high cholesterol, diabetes or has a family history of premature cardiovascular diseases, than he needs to take medication.

"If his blood pressure is persistently at 160/100 or more, he has to take medication. But it does not mean having to do so for the rest of his life, especially when complications of hypertension have not set in. If he is willing to change his lifestyle, he can eventually go off medication."

Several surveys have indicated that Malays are the worst when it comes to controlling their blood pressure.

Abdul Rashid said some patients refuse to take medication because they feel drugs are poisonous, not realising that the food they eat is equally bad.

"They eat salty, fattening food and smoke. Yet they do not want to take medication to control their blood pressure. They are also wasting public funds allocated for the medications."

For example in 2005, based on data from a national survey, the cost of treating hypertension at government hospitals was estimated to be RM135 million for the various types of medication.

However, in 2006 a survey of government outpatient clinics showed that the control rates among patients with hypertension was less than 30 per cent.

The same year, a paper published in a leading international journal reported that more than half of Malaysian patients with hypertension do not take their medications as prescribed. To raise awareness on hypertension, May 17 has been declared as World Hypertension Day since 2005.

Activities include educating the public on how to lead a healthier lifestyle.