IMANI boss Africa, Franklin Cudjoe has urged Ghanaians to check their blood pressure before heading out to church or engaging in other activities, warning that high blood pressure can become fatal without obvious symptoms.
He used a message on Sunday to encourage people to take hypertension seriously, while also sharing his own blood pressure and pulse readings.
“Before you step out to go Church or wherever you plan to be today, to have fun, please check your blood pressure,” Cudjoe said.
He described hypertension as “the number one silent robber of life” and warned that people could be living with dangerously high blood pressure without knowing it.
“People are walking ghosts with blood pressure reading of systolic (top number) reading of 240 mm Hg,” he said.
Cudjoe explained the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure and noted that a normal systolic reading is below 120 mm Hg, while a normal diastolic reading is below 80 mm Hg.
He also said a normal resting pulse for adults is between 60 and 100 beats per minute, citing the Cleveland Clinic.
Cudjoe disclosed that his own reading was 116/69 mmHg, with a pulse of 71 beats per minute, which he said falls within the healthy range according to the Mayo Clinic.
Referencing his Parkinson’s journey, he said he could not afford to develop additional serious health conditions such as stroke or diabetes.
“As you all know, my Parkinson’s journey means I cannot afford another disease such as stroke, diabetes and any chronically cancerous disease to complement the Parkinsons. That would be double jeopardy,” he said.
He also advised Ghanaians to be mindful of what they eat, particularly when it comes to heavy meals.
“So please go check your blood pressure now. And please double down on eating just a quarter of that heavy fufu today,” he said.
Cudjoe ended the message in his usual light-hearted manner, telling his followers to take the advice seriously before signing off, “Kokloviwo! Koklo!”
