Albufeira promotes Walk against Hypertension

Albufeira City Council , in partnership with the three local Primary Health Care units, are organizing the sports activity “Together in the Walk against Hypertension”, on Saturday, May 17th, at 9:00 am.

The initiative takes place on World Hypertension Day and aims to raise awareness in the community about the importance of physical activity in preventing the disease and promoting health and well-being.

This is a three-kilometer walk, aimed at individuals aged between 40 and 75.

The event, which covers a universe of nine thousand users of the three local health units (although the majority do not present diagnosis of hypertension), expects the participation of approximately 100 to 200 people.

It should be noted that the initiative aims to raise awareness in the community about the importance of physical activity in preventing hypertension and encourage the promotion of active and healthy lifestyles.

The meeting point is set for Parque do Ribeiro, next to the Albufeira Health Centre. Participants will be welcomed at 9:00 am and will be given out t-shirts.

The official opening of the event, with a performance by the Percutunes Percussion Orchestra, is scheduled for 9:10 am, followed by an aural mobility session.

The Hypertension Walk starts at 10:00 am. During the route, there will be a stop at the pier at Praia dos Pescadores, between 10:20 am and 10:40 am, a moment to enjoy the landscape, record the experience with photos to remember later, hydration and nutrition.

The return to the starting point takes place around 11:30 am, followed by stretching and another performance by the Percutunes Orchestra.

At 11:40 am, several lectures will be held, with four guest speakers representing different forms of commitment to health and sports practice: Vasco Catroga, athlete and ambassador for the ASICS brand, is also an influencer in promoting walking and active lifestyles.

Hugo Santos, a young athlete with a career marked by personal achievement, practices kickboxing and is responsible for inspiring hundreds of young people to make healthy choices, based on his life story.

Ricardo Rodrigues, founder of Bikesul, has participated in several international competitions, notably Cape Epic and Brasil Ride.

Rosa Silva represents the Associação Caminhadas ao Luar in Albufeira, a non-profit organization that organizes various types of walks with a view to promoting health and community life.

Between 12:00 and 13:00, several fun and interactive activities will take place simultaneously, with the distribution of gifts, supplements, sports equipment and other surprises. The programme also includes games and challenges, electric bicycle tests and recreational activities. The Albufeira Health Centre will be present to carry out measurements of health indicators.

In Portugal, the prevalence of hypertension is 26.9 percent, being higher in women (29.5 percent) than in men (23.9 percent), according to a study by the Directorate-General for Health.

The situation highlights the need to promote healthy habits to combat cardiovascular risk factors.

The aforementioned study also highlights the low control of hypertension among the elderly and the association with other diseases, such as diabetes and high cholesterol, reinforcing the importance of preventive initiatives such as this walk.

Furthermore, data from Eurobarometer 472 (European Commission, 2018) reveal that 73 percent of Portuguese people do not exercise regularly, which further justifies the urgency of promoting active and healthy initiatives and behaviors among the population.

Registration is free and is taking place at the Albufeira Health Center.

“Sign up for your Health”, encourages the local authority.

Photo: Mufid Majnun / Unsplash.