Science Reporting

Henrylito D. Tacio
Summary Lead
Around 14 million Filipinos have hypertension and most of them are not
aware of the serious problem they are undergoing, according to the
Department of Health.
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, described as “a serious problem”
can make a person susceptible to develop heart attacks and strokes.
People with hypertension would “literally drop dead before they could
realize what was wrong with them,” said Dr. Esperanza Cabral, past
president of the Philippine Society of Hypertension.
Punch lead
Find it first before it finds you!
“Detecting high blood pressure is the first step in preventing and
controlling it; when people know their blood pressure level, they can take
steps to control it,” said Dr. Enrique Ona, the former head of the
Department of Health.
Hypertension causes 7 million deaths every year while1.5 billion people
suffer due to its complications, according to the World Health
Organization (WHO).
Quotation lead
“Hypertension is truly a serious problem that requires more serious
attention. It’s no longer acceptable that just any doctor can treat any
patient with hypertension. Many cases of hypertension are more
complicated than they seem.”
This was what Dr. Esperanza Cabral, past president of the Philippine
Society of Hypertension, said in a statement issued during the Division
School Press Conference.
Question lead

Do you want to live longer and don’t die from heart attack or stroke?
Then you better know what hypertension – also known as high blood
pressure – is! Heart attack and stroke are some of its complications.
“Hypertension is the primary factor underlying strokes and stroke-related
deaths,” wrote Dr. Julian Whitaker in his book, Reversing Hypertension: A
Vital New Program to Prevent, Treat, and Reduce High Blood Pressure.
Anecdotal lead
Raymund, 28 years old, was busy preparing for the forthcoming mountain
climbing.  When he was still younger, he used to join activities like marathon,
running, and hiking.  But since working as a business consultant, he was not in
good shape anymore.  So for almost five months, he trained to build his core
muscles, ate only nutritious food, and had to give up drinking and smoking. 
Two weeks before the mountain climbing, Raymund went to see his doctor for a
routine checkup.  He was diagnosed with high blood pressure.  When asked
about any symptoms he had noticed, he answered that he experienced
palpitation and dizziness but assumed they were the result of excessive training.
Around 14 million Filipinos, or 25% of the total adult population at that time,
have hypertension, the Department of Health reported.  Most of these people are
unaware of their condition.
Direct address lead
You can have high blood pressure for years without any symptoms. Even
without symptoms, damage to blood vessels and your heart continues
and can be detected. Uncontrolled high blood pressure increases your
risk of serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke.
“Practically, nine out of 10 hypertensive patients have uncontrolled blood
pressure which make them good candidates to develop heart attacks and
strokes,” said Dr. Esperanza Cabral, past president of the Philippine
Society of Hypertension
Question lead
Naninigarilyo ka ba? O kaya’y sobra sa timbang o masyadong mataba? O
kumakain ng sobra maalat na mga pagkain? O hindi masyadong aktibo
at umiinom ng alak?
Kung ginagawa mo ang mga ito, baka ikaw ay may sukduldiin o
altapresyon na nakakamatay.
“Ang altapresyon ay isang malaking salik ng panganib para sa stroke,
pagkasira ng tisiyu dahil sa pagharang ng suplay ng dugo sa puso, hindi
paggana ng puso, at sanhi ng hindi gumagaling na sakit sa bato,” ayon
sa Wikipedia.
Quotation lead
“May gamut para sa altapresyon o high blood pressure na mabisa at
mura pa,” sabi pa ni Dr. Willie T. Ong, isang kolumnista ng Pilipino Star
Ngayon.
Ang tinutukoy niya na gamut ay Amlodipine.
“Matagal ang bisa ng Amlodipine,” ayon kay Dr. Ong. “Ang isang tableta
ng Amlodipine ay kayang magpababa ng presyon sa loob ng 24
hanggang 48 oras.”
Punch lead
Huwag ipagbahala ang pagtaas ng presyon ng dugo!
Ang mga taong magpapawalang bahala sa pagtaas ng presyon ng
kanilang dugo ay nangangambang magkaruon ng sakit sa puso at stroke.
“Maaraing mapabuti ng mga pagbabago sa pagkain at pamumuhay ang
pagkontrol sa presyon ng dugo at mababawasan ang panganib ng
kaugnay na mga komplikasyon sa kalusugan,” ayon sa Wikipedia.
Paraphrasing
Hypertension causes 7 million deaths every year while 1.5 billion
people suffer due to its complications. – World Health Organization
1) The World Health Organization reports that 7 million people die as a
result of hypertension. Another 1.5 billion people “suffer due to its
complications.”
2) Seven million deaths. That’s the total number of people die of
hypertension, according to the World Health Organization. In addition,
some 1.5 billion people “suffer due to its complications.”
3) Seven million and 1.5 billion. Those are the figures of those who die and
suffer from complications of hypertension, respectively. That’s what the
World Health Organization states.
Paraphrasing
“May gamut para sa altapresyon na mabisa at mura pa. Ang tinutukoy ko
ay ang Amlodipine. Matagal ang bisa ng Amlodipine. Ang isang tableta
ay kayang magpababa ng presyon sa loob ng 24 hanggang 48 oras.
Napakabisa nito.” – Dr. Willie T. Ong, kolumnista ng Pilipino Star Ngayon
1) Amlodipine, ito ang pinakamabisa na gamut para sa altapresyon, ayon
kay Dr. Willie T. Ong, isang kolumnistang Pilipino Star Ngayon. “At mura
pa,” sabi niya.
2) Kahit isang tableta lang, mapapababa ang presyon ng dugo mo sa
loob ng 24 hanggang 48 oras. Sabi pa ni Dr. Willie T. Ong, isang
kolumnistang Pilipino Star Ngayon, “Napakabisa nito.”