Hello and thanks for joining "Kick Out Hypertension"

My name is George Ochieng. My friends call me Ochilive. I am the owner of the group "Kick Out Hypertension". 

I am definitely not an authority in this area, but i have a keen interest, having had a close personal experience with this high blood pressure.

2 years ago, when  my mother got a sudden stroke which paralysed her entire right side . Since this happened in Migori, my sibblings and I had to rush there to help her out.

once there, we had to airlift her to Nairobi since to Migori District hospital did not have the necessary facilities to handle the stroke. 

Once in Nairobi, the doctors had an X-Ray done on her head as well as a series of tests which revealed that the cause of the stroke was a brain haemorhage caused by severe high blood pressure (her bood pressure was 220/110).

The tests also revealed that her blood cholesterol was very high. This came as a suprise to us because my mother is not big. She probably weighs 78 Kgs.

For several months, my siblings and I took turns taking care of her. What sadened me most was the way she was reduced from being an active, cheerfull, independent woman to a state of total dependancy. We had to bath her, clean her, feed her, move her etc. she was now like a small baby.

After several months of mediacation, physiotherapy, close attention and a careful watch over her diet, she improved tremendously. She can walk but with a slight limp.

My mother could be considered lucky because she suffrered a stroke and lived to tell of it. However, not many Kenyanys are as lucky. They live for many years without carefully monotoring their blood pressure, dont take care of their diets, dont excercise, are prone to stress and are totally ignorant of ways to manage their blood pressure.

The problem with high blood pressure is that unlike other diseases it has no symptoms. It slowly and silently creeps into our lives and before we know it, we have suffered irreparable damage. That is why it needs close monitoring

In staring the group "Kick Out Hypertension", I hope to meeat as many people as possible who have an interest in high blood pressure, share ideas and experiences and hopefully create an awareness and help as many more people better manage their blood pressure.

Your  comments, contributions, criticizims and all welcome.

Regards

Ochilive