Hypertension Clinic at QEH helping in NCDs fight with smart app

By Caribbean Medical News Staff

Doctors at The Hypertension Clinic set up at Queen Elizabeth Hospital are attempting to make a difference in the lives of Barbadians as they face the expanding, chronic and sometimes fatal complications of Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases (NCDs).

Consultant-in-charge of the clinic, Dr. Kenneth Connell said that not only is the Clinic working on the issues facing Barbados and attempting to control the spiralling problem of NCDs,  but that they have to face this situation in the middle of massive cuts to the health care budget at the QEH.

Patients are now being asked to monitor their own blood pressure where once a 24-hr monitoring device was affixed to patients. This can also be a good thing in the sense that patients can become more empowered and less “dependent”, watching out for their own health and making significant lifestyle changes. High blood pressure (hypertension), also known as “the silent killer,” is often linked to stroke, heart attack and arterial disease.

Smart apps are also being used for patient self-monitoring and according to Dr Connell, those who can use the app are already downloading the same and monitoring their blood pressure readings, hooking the same up to a printer and having the information analysed by doctors. 

Meanwhile Dr. Connell has asked Barbadians to continue to exercise, monitor sodium intake, adjust diet and lifestyle issues and add more fruit, cruciferous foods and vegetables to their diet.

 

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