నైరూప్య

A review of the DASH plan in Nigeria.

Ogunkoya OE, Besidonne CE

High blood pressure, known also as hypertension has become an increasingly prevalent medical condition in Nigeria over the last decade and as a condition which is often associated with other clinical illnesses, relevant measures towards controlling its effects have been developed globally. This review, which involved the use of relevant academic literature, looks at one of the major advancements in lifestyle medicine that has been in use for more than two decades and views its application with the current situation in Nigeria. Controlling the disease through dieting particularly DASH is considered a major advancement in the field of clinical Nutrition. DASH involves the development of a moderate carbohydrate eating plan combined with the recommended intake of vegetables and fruits to supply relevant macro and micro nutrients necessary to alleviate hypertension. Although, currently being used in Nigeria by dieticians and clinical nutritionists, several public health challenges have continuously hindered the country from reaping the full benefits of the DASH plan. Some of these challenges include the dissemination and interpretation of plans by care givers and patients, the strict adherence to plans formulated by clinical nutritionists, economic constraints, as well as the lack of expertise in the formulation of DASH plans for patients in Nigeria. Recommendations are made as to how best such challenges can be overcome, including working with patients considering their literacy levels, counseling methods and using the Patient Record Card (PRC) to manage the adherence and compliance to formulated DASH plans.