Hypertension related diseases increase in Kumasi

Kumasi, Nov 22, GNA- A research conducted by the Hypertension Clinic of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) has revealed that about 30 percent of people aged 30 and above living in communities which shared boundary with Kumasi were hypertensive.

Dr Paul Acheampong of the Hypertension Clinic at KATH who made this known, attributed this to excessive salt intake, alcohol, smoking, obesity and stress.

He was speaking at a sponsored walk organised by the Ashanti regional branch of Wesley Girls High School Old Students Association in Kumasi on Saturday to raise funds to support the clinic in its public education campaign.

Dr Acheampong said the situation in the Kumasi metropolis could be much higher considering the stress and changing lifestyles of the people.

He disclosed that about 25 percent of all admissions at the adult wards at KATH were direct hypertension related conditions or complications associated with hypertension.

Dr Acheampong said it was to take the message on the dangers of the disease to the people in the streets and commended the old girls for the initiation and asked Ghanaians to exercise a lot of exercise and do regular medical check-ups.

Mrs Doris Amoyaw, Ashanti Regional President of the association, said while talking much about new diseases like AIDS It was important to keep reminding Ghanaians about the old diseases such as hypertension, which is a silent killer.

She said many people unknowingly walking around with hypertension and there was the need to raise funds to help the clinic to educate the public about preventable diseases.

Mr Amoyaw called on the public to support the clinic in its educational campaigns.