Several Caribbean nations have implemented an initiative aimed at improving hypertension prevention and control.
Regular blood pressure testing can help control hypertension.Barbados, Cuba, Dominican Republic, St. Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago have joined up with HEARTS, which is promoted by the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization in partnership with the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Hypertension is one of the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes, the principal causes of death in the Caribbean.
“Implementing the package of measures that HEARTS includes, which are simple and of proven effectiveness, can prevent complications from cardiovascular diseases and premature deaths,” PAHO/WHO experts have noted.
Hypertension is a problem that contributes to heart disease. However, it is estimated that 40 percent of people with hypertension in the Caribbean do not know their condition. Of those who know they have hypertension and receive treatment, around 20 percent have their blood pressure controlled.
Among the HEARTS initiative’s measures for primary health care workers are the establishment of a protocol for the management of hypertension, adoption of a set of drugs and technologies of proven effectiveness to treat hypertension, re-organization of the tasks of the health team, registry and monitoring of progress; and advice to patients on healthy habits and lifestyles.
