Abstract:

Hypertension or High BP is one of the most important and common risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and renal disease. The contemporary approach to the epidemic of elevated BP and it complications involves pharmacologic treatment of hypertensive individuals and “lifestyle modification” which is beneficial for both non-hypertensive and hypertensive persons. The concept that explain about lifestyle modification has powerful effect on lowering high BP this includes increased physical activity, moderation of alcohol intake, reduced salt intake, emphasis on fruits and vegetables, weight loss and an overall healthy diet called the DASH diet can help in lowering high BP. The current challenge to stakeholders such as health care providers, researchers, government officials and the general public is developing and implementing effective clinical and public health strategies that lead to sustained lifestyle modification.

Objective: Knowledge, adherence and determinants of lifestyle modifications among hypertensive patients attending Bugando medical centre.

Methodology: The study was hospital based cross sectional study, involved all hypertensive patients attending Bugando medical centre outpatient department clinic and inpatient from February – June 2019. Data collection were through designed questionnaire on specific objectives, the obtained data was entered and analyzed using SPSS statistical package.

Results: Out of 347 hypertensive patients, about 333 (96%) of the participants yet are eating red meat and bout 274 (79%) of the participants are using salt in their meals without reducing despite being diagnosed hypertensive. About 337 (97.1%) of the participants had no intention to change their lifestyle even one of the lifestyle and majority of the participants 154 (44.4%) reduced alcohol intake as well as about 154 (44.4%) of the participants stopped from smoking all after being diagnosed to have hypertension.

Conclusion: In the study most of hypertensive patients had poor prognosis of hypertension. Many had no intention to change their lifestyle their despite being diagnosed as hypertensive and also only some hypertensive patients had modified their lifestyle such as stopped smoking as well as stopped using alcohol.

Recommendation: Education about lifestyle changes to both hypertension and normotensive should be greatly emphasized about the danger signs and symptoms of hypertension so as to prevent the consequences by hypertension which may end up increasing mortality rate among individuals.