Hypertension in Saudi Arabia: Assessing Life Style and Attitudes

Abstract

Background: The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet lowers blood pressure (BP) effectively. There is evidence that strongly supports the concept that lifestyle modification has a powerful effect on BP. The DASH diet includes increased physical activity, reduced salt intake, weight loss, increased potassium intake, and an overall healthy dietary pattern. This study assesses the knowledge and attitudes of Saudis in Riyadh City towards lifestyle and hypertension. Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed using a questionnaire-based assessment tool, which included sociodemographic data, knowledge and lifestyle attitudes toward hypertension, such as dietary factors, stress, smoking, physical activities, and diet-related diseases (including obesity and diabetes mellitus). Statistical analyses to examine the perceived association between lifestyle factors and hypertension risks included frequency distribution, percentages, and chi-square tests of significance. Results: Out of 934 total participants, 13.6% were hypertensive; 84.4% and 60.2% of participants believed eating salty food and fatty food, respectively, were risk factors for hypertension. Almost 66.0% of participants considered stress as a risk factor for the development of hypertension, whereas 77.0% considered smoking as a risk factor. The data showed that 87.5% considered obesity as a risk factor, and 73.8% considered reducing weight as a preventive measure for hypertension. Also, 68.8% believed that physical inactivity was a risk factor for hypertension. Data showed that 16.6 % ate vegetables and 23.1% ate fruits as recommended, whereas 18.8% and 18.4%, respectively, rarely ate vegetables and fruits. About 12.1% smoked and 19.7% exercised regularly, whereas 15.6% did not exercise at all. Traffic and examination were reported as stress factors by younger participants. Conclusion and Implications for Translation: The knowledge of the relationship between hypertension risk factors and eating salty or fatty food was high. In contrast, knowledge of not eating vegetables and fruits as a risk factor for the development of hypertension was very low among the Saudis.