PSH, DOH launch Cardiovascular Risk Assessment & Management Initiative

THypertensive diseases ranked 5th among the leading causes of deaths among Filipinos in 2016. Its complications – including ischemic heart diseases, cerebrovascular diseases and other heart diseases – are also included in this list of top killers. These diseases are projected to continue to prevail in the succeeding years if no action is taken against them. International health organizations have come up with programs to slow down, if not completely prevent, the surge in disease prevalence and incidence.

May 17th has been designated as World Hypertension Day, and in 2017 and 2018, the International Society of Hypertension set up several sites around the world to screen as many people as possible and assess their blood pressure (BP). This has since been expanded to the entirety of the month; hence, May Measurement Month (MMM) was established. MMM highlights the effectiveness of BP screening to reduce the complications brought about by hypertension in an individual.

Last 16 May 2019, the Philippine Society of Hypertension (PSH) held a press conference at the Marco Polo Hotel in Ortigas and announced that it has partnered with the Philippine Heart Association (PHA) and Omron Healthcare Philippines to help in the battle against hypertension in the country. Since hypertension usually does not produce any symptom, an individual can help in its early detection by self-monitoring using a blood pressure monitoring device at home.