High-blood pressure eyed after 70-year-old traffic enforcer dies while on duty

A 70-year-old traffic enforcer in Dagupan City died on Wednesday afternoon while on duty due to what his family suspected to be related to hypertension. 

According to the report of GMA Regional TV’s Jeric Pasiliao on “State of the Nation,” Renato Salvador collapsed while managing traffic on the road under the scorching heat of the sun. 

He was brought to the hospital but died. 

Salvador’s kin said that his untimely death could be due to hypertension, which runs in their family. 

“Having a high blood pressure runs in our family and it pains us that it caused his death,” said Noemi Salvador, the victim’s sister, in Filipino. 

The World Health Organization described hypertension as a condition “in which the blood vessels have persistently raised pressure.” It added that higher the pressure, the harder the heart has to pump. 

The Department of Health explained that one’s blood pressure can elevate when exposed to extreme heat. 

“If a person experiences extreme heat or was exposed to the scorching heat of the sun, his blood pressure rises,” said Rheuel Bobis, DOH-Center for Health Development 1 spokesperson, in Filipino. 

Aside from avoiding extreme heat, experts advise hypertensive individuals to always take their maintenance medications; and follow a healthy diet by avoiding fatty, sweet, and salty food. 

Experts also recommend regularly checking blood pressure. A normal blood pressure is at 120/80 or below.

Exercising and managing stress also helps those with hypertension.