City Medical Center

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, has earned the nickname “the silent killer” for good reason — most people who have it feel completely fine. There’s often no pain, no obvious symptom, and no warning sign until it causes a heart attack, stroke, or kidney damage. As lifestyles shift toward more processed foods and less physical activity across urban Cameroon, hypertension is becoming an increasingly common — and increasingly overlooked — health concern.

What Is Blood Pressure, Really?

Blood pressure measures the force of blood pushing against your artery walls as your heart pumps. It’s recorded as two numbers: systolic (the pressure when your heart beats) over diastolic (the pressure when your heart rests between beats). A reading is generally considered high when it consistently measures at or above 140/90 mmHg, though your doctor may use a different threshold depending on your individual risk factors.

Why It’s So Easy to Miss

Because hypertension rarely causes noticeable symptoms in its early stages, many people only discover they have it during a routine check-up — or worse, after a serious event like a stroke. This is exactly why regular blood pressure screening matters, even when you feel perfectly healthy.

Common Risk Factors

• Excess salt intake (common in bouillon cubes, processed snacks, and preserved foods)
• Being overweight or having a large waist circumference
• Physical inactivity
• Heavy alcohol consumption
• Chronic stress
• Family history of hypertension
• Smoking
• Age — risk increases as we get older

Everyday Steps to Protect Your Heart

1. Cut back on salt gradually. Try reducing bouillon cubes and salty seasoning in cooking, and rely more on fresh herbs, garlic, ginger, and pepper for flavor.
2. Move your body regularly. Even a brisk 30-minute walk most days of the week can meaningfully lower blood pressure over time.
3. Watch your weight. Carrying excess weight, especially around the abdomen, puts extra strain on your heart.
4. Limit alcohol and avoid tobacco entirely.
5. Manage stress through rest, prayer, community, exercise, or whatever healthy outlet works for you.
6. Get your blood pressure checked at least once a year if you’re over 30 — more often if you have other risk factors or a family history.

Living with a Diagnosis

If you’ve already been diagnosed with hypertension, the most important thing you can do is stay consistent: take medication exactly as prescribed, attend follow-up appointments, and don’t stop treatment just because you start to feel fine — feeling fine doesn’t mean your blood pressure has returned to normal. Uncontrolled hypertension over many years is what leads to the serious complications people fear most: stroke, heart failure, and kidney disease.

The Bottom Line

You cannot feel high blood pressure — you can only measure it. A simple check-up, taking just a few minutes, could reveal a risk you didn’t know you had. Making it a routine part of your healthcare, alongside small daily lifestyle adjustments, is one of the most effective things you can do for your long-term health.