By Tolit Ivan
Health experts in the Acholi Sub region have attributed the rising cases of hypertension to poor nutrition and increasing stress levels driven by economic hardship and poverty in the region.
According to a report from St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor, about 25% of the 250 patients receiving treatment for non-communicable diseases on a daily basis are living with hypertension.
Dr Daniel Oriba Langoya, an Associate Consultant Physician in Internal Medicine at St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor, said poor nutrition and chronic stress are major contributors to high blood pressure in the region.
Oriba urged communities across Acholi to adopt healthier eating habits, and avoid situations that cause unnecessary stress, warning that hypertension is becoming one of the leading causes of death in the region.
Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, occurs when the force of blood against the walls of the arteries remains consistently high.
Often referred to as a “silent killer,” the condition usually has no warning signs but can lead to heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, and other life-threatening complications if left untreated.
In Uganda, hypertension affects an estimated 26% to 28% of adults, making it the country’s most common non-communicable disease.
Health experts estimate that nearly 70% of those affected remain undiagnosed and unaware of their condition, significantly increasing their risk of severe complications.
