Living in the developed western world presents a staggering risk of developing high blood pressure: 90 percent for all of us! I always thought risks were highest among couch potatoes, smokers and fast food junkies. But our western ways may not be solely to blame: the hypertension epidemic respects no borders – it’s increasing dramatically in China and India and is on the rise in remote parts of Africa, too.
“Hypertension leads to stroke and heart attack as the major cause of death around the world. It is greater than malnutrition, cancer and AIDS,” said Eoin O’Brien, M.D., of the Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research at the University College Dublin in the announcement of an innovative solution to a problem that has hindered diagnosis and treatment in Africa.
How do you measure blood pressure in places where electricity may be non-existent or undependable and rechargeable batteries scarce and expensive? The World Health Organization hit on the idea of an accurate, fully automated solar-powered device. The rationale is that while batteries and electricity may be in short supply, sunlight is plentiful in the low-income countries where hypertension is a growing threat.
The blood pressure measuring device, now a reality, has been field-tested in Uganda and Zambia, where it took only 15 minutes to train staff to use it. And when the solar-powered machine was tested against a standard one on 716 participants in a study of its accuracy, it proved 94 percent in agreement for systolic blood pressure (the top, and most important number).
Readings of the diastolic number (the bottom one) were less accurate, but that shouldn’t be hard to fix, according to Dr. O’Brien. First up among those expected to benefit from use of the new device: pregnant women. Diagnosing high blood pressure during pregnancy could cut the very high maternal death rates in developing countries.
That would be a very good start.
CONNECT THE DOTS
Blood pressure is too high if the top number is over 140 and the bottom one is over 90. Risk rises with age (because blood vessels become less flexible), but is also increased if you’re African American, obese, a smoker, eat too many salty foods, have diabetes, or a family history of high blood pressure. Here’s where you can learn more about high blood pressure. For more news about blood pressure and cardiovascular health, check out our blog posts, “Track Your Health With Home Medical Tests” and “Healthy Gums Could Prevent a Heart Attack.”
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