The influence of health education on life quality of patients with hypertension

Aim To investigate the effect of health education regarding cardiovascular risik factors (obesity, high blood pressuere, smoking, physical inactivity, high alcohol consumption, and inadequate nutrition) in the patients with hypertension Methods A questionnaire containing the data relating to age, sex, body weight and height, blood pressure values, risk factors and self-evaluation of health was used as a research instrument. The same questionnairre was filled out before and after three weeks of conducted education. The subjects were randomly selected, as 50 patients with hypertension who were referred to an internal medicine institution for the first time. Descriptive statistic methods were used in the data analysis. Results The results have shown that 45 (90%) of subjects were overweight or obese, and in 25 (50%) of subjects blood pressure was higher than 161/101 mmHg has found. After conducted education, positive changes regarding harmful eating habits were found, but changes were not found in smoking habit. The number of subjects who used relaxation methods in relieving stress increased from 24 (48%) to 32 (64%). The education was 100% successful regarding taking prescribed medications. The number of physically active subjects was increased from six (12%) patients walked every day before education to 28 (56%) after education. After conducted education the subjects changed their harmful habits and their blood pressure was decreased.Conclusion Arterial hypertension is a serious health issue because of high mortality and morbidity rates. Nurses have an important role in preventing hypertension as well as in the providing of health education to patients with hypertension.