How my mother's Hypertension-induced blindness sparked my journey into health research - a note from a journalist

High blood pressure, or hypertension, occurs when blood pressure in the vessels rises to dangerous levels—typically around 140/90 mmHg or higher. When my mother was diagnosed with hypertension, it came as a shock; none of her siblings had the condition, and it felt like her life was suddenly at risk. I was familiar with hypertension as a "lifestyle disease," but it hit closer to home than ever before.

In June 2017, as I received my first paycheck as a journalist, I got an alarming call: my mother, Akosua Bimpomaa, had suddenly lost her sight. Panicked, I asked her what happened, and she replied, in Twi, that everything had gone dark when she woke up. I immediately arranged for her to go to Bryant Mission Eye Hospital in Obuasi and took leave from work to be with her.

Concerned about the severity of her condition, I contacted Dr. Emmanuel Ekow Ampiah, an optometrist and a Facebook friend who frequently educates his followers on eye health. He immediately asked if my mother had hypertension, explaining that high blood pressure can damage the small blood vessels in the eyes, leading to blurred vision or even complete sight loss. As I traveled to be with her, I researched extensively on the relationship between hypertension and eye health.

When I reached Obuasi, my mother confirmed that she could not see me standing before her. Her response broke my heart, and I updated Dr. Ampiah, who reassured me that adhering to her medication and a healthy diet could likely restore her sight. Within a few days, her vision returned—though at first, only in one eye. Today, thanks to medication and a balanced diet, her hypertension and vision have significantly improved.

Despite our experience, some still doubt that high blood pressure can harm the eyes. My late boss, Ms. Jane Quartey, was skeptical too. This inspired me to delve deeper into writing on hypertension and to engage with experts like Dr. Ampiah and dietitians.

Diet and Hypertension management

For the purpose of this article, l would analyse the use of nutrition by following through a dedicated time frame for meals to prevent and manage hypertension and diabetes as proposed by various experts interviewed below.

When I contacted a dietician based in Accra at the LETS Consult Ltd, Mr Wise Chukwudi Letsa, said for those who have not been diagnosed of diabetes and hypertension, it was possible to use a healthy diet and exercise to keep these lifestyle diseases away.

He said a healthy diet include vegetables such as garden eggs while avoiding fried, oily and salty meals.

However, he explained that patients who have been diagnosed could not use only a healthy diet plan to manage the diseases.

“And this is because there’s a role that the diet plays in managing the two conditions (diabetes and hypertension), so if u stop taking the medication and rely solely on diet, you will miss out on the level of recovery. The best is to combine the two, diet and medication” he advised.

Having managed many of such patients, he said for diabetes patients they have to avoid sugar and alcohol.

Prevention

Healthy eating plan, he noted will prevent hypertension and diabetes especially if an individual was genetically predisposing to the diseases (diabetes and hypertension).

“If you eat healthy and you are genetically predisposing which diabetes and hypertension are examples, you will not be affected because you are eating well. Healthy eating is good for everybody. You don’t need to be sick, eat heathy” he said.

Follow time instruction

He indicated that it was very important to follow time instruction, adding that breakfast should be before 8. am, lunch between 12.pm to 1pm and supper by 6: 30 pm. along with medication.

“When the instruction is medication before food or after food, please follow. These simple instructions should be respected very well. It will give you a better result” he said.

Diet helpful

He noted that a healthy diet could control the condition (diabetes and hypertension), prevent the disease and it complications, prevent sudden death and “so why don’t we give it our all?”.

Apart from the diseases (diabetes and hypertension) being as a result of a family history, he said it could be in the genes and inherited. Adding that obese, stress, abuse of fatty foods and not managing stress well were all an associated factor.

Statistics

The theme for this year’s world hypertension celebration is: “Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer”. According to some medical experts in Ghana, Hypertension is among the leading causes of admissions and deaths in the country, accounting for 4.7 per cent of total admissions and 15.3 per cent of total deaths.

Statistics from the Ghana Health Service (GHS) in 2018 show that hypertension was a common cause of medical emergencies such as heart failure and renal failure in Ghana.

It is also the main determinant of stroke with a population attributable risk of about 91 per cent and the number one risk factor for heart disease, stroke, renal complications and premature death.

Diabetes

A study by the World Health Organisation had indicated that the African region had the highest numbers in statistics with regard to undiagnosed cases of diabetes and it was very important to help raise more awareness to help curb the disease.

A Medical doctor at the Okomfo Anokye hospital, Dr Florence Osei, said diabetes and hypertension often occur together and may share some common causes. These include sedentary lifestyle with excessive calorie intake and obesity.

She said a person with diabetes either does not have enough insulin to process glucose, explaining that insulin is the hormone that enables the body to process glucose from food and use it as energy.

"When a person has insulin problems, glucose cannot enter their cells to provide energy, so it accumulates in the bloodstream instead.

High blood glucose levels can damage tissues and organs, including those that play a key role in maintaining healthy blood pressure. For example, damage to the blood vessels and kidneys can cause blood pressure to rise. So while hypertension may not cause diabetes directly, it could increase the risk of someone developing diabetes if they have high blood pressure" she explained.

Without treatment, she pointed out that diabetes and high blood pressure may lead to serious complications, such as eye problems.

According to her it was best to use exercice, a healthy eating diet low in fats and cholesterol to manage and prevent diabetes and hypertension.

"The focus should be on fruits, vegetables, lean meat, whole grains, beans. Soups and stew should be vegetable base" she said.

Meatless initiative

The Executive Director of Communication Initiatives for Change (CIC-Ghana), Mr Emmanuel Fiagbey, promoters of Meatless Monday Ghana, which is a global campaign that encourages people not to eat meat on Mondays to improve their health and the health of the planet, in a press release this year to joined the World Hypertension League in calling on everyone to pay greater attention to the management of Hypertension.

He said everyone can benefit from taking measures to lower blood pressure by modifying risk factors such as high salt intake, and low potassium, limiting alcohol consumption, avoiding smoking, checking one's weight to avoid being obese, making time for physical activities and avoiding unhealthy diet and unregulated meat consumption.

He added that Meatless Monday Ghana agrees with health experts that High blood pressure could be reduced by following a healthy eating plan that is high in fruit and vegetables and low in consumption of red and fatty meat in particular.

He recommended that adults should eat at least five pieces of fruit and vegetables every day as it helped prevent hypertension-related diseases such as heart disease and stroke.