Dar Cardiologist warns youth against blood pressure threat

DAR ES SALAAM: A cardiologist at  Shifaa Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Lulu Mageta has urged youth in the country to regularly check their health as many are currently suffering from high blood pressure.

She said in the past it was seen that adults were at risk of developing high blood pressure but now many youth  under 40 are suffering from the problem.

Dr Lulu said this yesterday in Dar es Salaam while discussing the increase in heart diseases especially among youth under 40 and the opportunity provided by the hospital for discounts for people who want to check their heart health.

She said youth should also create a culture of regularly checking their heart health to know their health instead of waiting until the situation gets worse when they  go to the hospital.

“In the past, it was seen that high blood pressure only attacks the elderly but due to changing lifestyles, many people do not exercise, so many youth  are currently suffering from such a problem,” said Dr Lulu and added

“Let’s not continue to have the same old mindset that high blood pressure is for the elderly because many young people die suddenly from these diseases, let’s change our lifestyle and exercise,” she said.

Furthermore, she said that in the past it was not easy to find a youth under 40 suffering from heart disease but in recent years it has become quite common to see them at that age suffering from heart disease.

“Recent experience clearly shows how many youth are suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes which also cause high blood pressure,” she said.

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She said among the causes of high blood pressure include being overweight and sitting for long periods at work without exercising.

Dr. Lulu mentioned some of the symptoms of the disease as pain under the heart, unusual tiredness and a faster heart rate than usual.

“If you notice that you are very tired when you walk a short distance, a distance that you used to walk without difficulty, then you should know that you have started to get high blood pressure and this disease does not come suddenly as some of us think it takes a long time that is why we advise regular testing,” she said

“When you arrive at Shifaa, you will be advised on the correct test to be given a solution to your problem that is why this month we have given a discount on heart disease screening for young people aged 25 to 40,” she said