Many Ghanaians With High Blood Pressure May Not Know They Have It

A warning from Ghana’s cardiovascular health sector has renewed attention on one of the country’s most difficult health challenges: the large number of people living with high blood pressure without knowing it.

Professor Alfred Doku, Head of the National Cardiothoracic Centre, has warned that a significant proportion of Ghanaians living with hypertension may be unaware that they have the condition.

The warning highlights the importance of regular blood-pressure checks because hypertension can develop without obvious symptoms and may remain undetected until serious complications occur.

Why hypertension can go unnoticed

Hypertension is often described as a “silent” condition because a person can have elevated blood pressure while feeling completely normal.

When high blood pressure remains uncontrolled over time, it can increase the risk of serious cardiovascular complications, including heart disease and stroke.

This makes early detection particularly important.

A person should not wait until they feel unwell before checking their blood pressure.

A simple check can reveal a hidden problem

Blood-pressure measurement is one of the simplest routine health checks available.

Adults can have their blood pressure checked at health facilities, pharmacies and other approved healthcare settings.

A high reading does not automatically mean that someone has hypertension. Healthcare professionals may need to take repeated measurements and consider the person's overall health before making a diagnosis.

People who repeatedly record high readings should therefore seek professional medical advice.

Lifestyle plays an important role

Reducing excessive salt intake, maintaining a healthy weight, engaging in regular physical activity and avoiding tobacco can help reduce cardiovascular risk.

A balanced diet and appropriate management of other health conditions can also form part of a broader strategy for maintaining healthy blood pressure.

For people already diagnosed with hypertension, prescribed treatment should be followed consistently. Medication should not be stopped simply because symptoms are absent or a person feels better.

Why this matters in Ghana

The concern goes beyond individual patients.

Undiagnosed hypertension can place additional pressure on families and the health system when complications eventually require more intensive treatment.

It also means that people who consider themselves healthy may be living with an important cardiovascular risk without taking preventive action.

For communities across the Savannah Region and other parts of northern Ghana, improving access to routine screening can therefore be an important part of public-health education.

Community health programmes, hospitals and health workers all have a role to play in encouraging people to know their blood-pressure numbers.

The message is simple

The most important lesson from the warning is that feeling healthy does not necessarily mean that blood pressure is normal.

Regular screening can identify elevated blood pressure early and give people an opportunity to seek appropriate medical advice before complications develop.

For Ghanaians who have not checked their blood pressure recently, a routine measurement could be a small step with significant long-term value.

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