17 July 2024
Syafrijal S.Kom
Belawan, the Community Service Team of the University of North Sumatra Community Service Institute (LPM USU) held a community service entitled "Establishment and Empowerment of an Active Fishing Community in Overcoming Hypertension in Bagan Deli Belawan Medan" which involved members of the Indonesian Coastal Women's Association (KPPI) Bagan Deli Belawan Medan .
The activity was chaired by Prof. Dr. Dr. Arlinda Sari Wahyuni, M.Kes, FISPH, FISCM, Sp.KKLP(K) (FK USU), with team member Prof. Dr. Dr. Rina Amelia, MARS, SpKKLP (K) (FK USU), Dra. Syarifah, M.S (FKM USU) and also assisted by students, namely, Putri Ardina Sari Nainggolan, S.Ked, Kezia Silaen, S.Ked who came from the USU Faculty of Medicine.
The prevalence of coastal communities suffering from hypertension is quite high, namely around 36%. Coastal communities have several risks of suffering from hypertension, namely age, gender and race as well as community habit patterns such as smoking and food consumption. Risk factors for food consumption are consumption of high levels of salty foods such as salted fish and shrimp paste as well as high levels of added salt in the food. Apart from that, there are unhealthy lifestyle habits such as smoking, drinking alcohol and drugs, as well as high coffee consumption. Fishing communities tend to have low levels of education and low socioeconomic levels, so the potential for stress is quite high and stress management is low. This increases the risk of disease.
This event began with delivering the material orally using a PowerPoint presentation, followed by a question and answer session, and direct practice of checking blood pressure. In this counseling, participants were given a comprehensive understanding of hypertension, starting from the definition, epidemiology, etiology, risk factors, symptoms, to how to prevent and treat it. Hypertension, known as the "silent killer," often has no symptoms but can lead to serious complications such as heart disease and stroke. Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that around 1.13 billion people in the world experience hypertension, which means that around 1 in 3 people are diagnosed with this condition. "We want to ensure that the participants not only understand the theory, but are also able to apply it in everyday life," said Prof. Arlinda.
During the practical session, participants are taught how to measure blood pressure correctly and are given practical tips for maintaining normal blood pressure. The participants looked enthusiastic and actively asked questions about various aspects of hypertension.
The health experts present also emphasized the importance of lifestyle changes to prevent and manage hypertension. "Reducing salt consumption, exercising regularly, avoiding smoking and alcohol, and maintaining an ideal body weight are important steps in preventing hypertension," explained Prof. Arlinda.
In closing the event, Prof. Arlinda said that regular blood pressure checks are highly recommended, especially for those who have high risk factors. Regular examinations can help detect hypertension early and prevent more serious complications.
By carrying out this activity, it is hoped that KPPI members and the fishing community in Bagan Deli Belawan will be more aware of the importance of maintaining health and be able to implement measures to prevent hypertension in their daily lives. "We hope that the knowledge gained from this outreach can spread widely and have a positive impact on the health of fishing communities," concluded Prof. Arlinda.
source : | https://www.petranews.my.id/2024/07/tim-pengabdian-masyarakat-usu-latih.html
