Health Official: Don't Dismiss High Blood Pressure

As hypertension continues to cause some level of concern in Montserrat residents are being warned not to take the disease lightly.

Dr. C. James Hospedales, Executive Director of the Caribbean Public Health Agency says hypertension is the number one risk factor for illness and premature death from cardiovascular disease, and one of the most common non-communicable diseases in the Caribbean region.

He says the disease may go undetected, so it is therefore important, to check once a year.

His call is supported by local physician at the St. Johns Hospital Ineka Mckenzie.

Usually symptom less, unrecognized and untreated, hypertension can cause serious health problems such as heart failure, stroke and kidney damage.  

There were 27 admissions at the St. Johns Hospital for hypertension in 2017.

Most were in the age group 65 plus, almost evenly split 14 females to 13 males over the period.