BLOOD PRESSURE STUDY OF PARTICIPANTS FROM THIRD AGE GYMS

Introduction and Objectives: Systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) is a disease characterized by chronic elevation of systolic and / or diastolic blood pressure (BP). (Barreto Filho & KRIEGER, 2003). As people get older, there is an increased prevalence of hypertension, which may affect 65% of patients over 70 years. Significant proportion of hypertensive patients have diabetes and obesity and risk factors such as physical inactivity (Carvalho & Garcia, 2003). Knowing this, the Third Age Gyms (TAG) were created. This paper intends to demonstrate the importance of TAGs on hypertension control. Methods: This is a descriptive experience report. The study was performed at the TAG of the Veneza neighborhood in Rio Verde, Goiás. The project was carried out for three weeks. Initially, the project was presented to the TAGs participants, then, volunteers were selected, with the inclusion criteria being the attendance in the activities. Eighteen volunteers were selected. The volunteers weekly checked their BP, recognizing their hypertension levels, and acknowledging the effectiveness of their hypertension treatment. Also, through a lecture and individual guidelines, the causes, risk factors, clinical manifestations, treatment and prevention of hypertension were explained. The interpretation of the data was based on the World Health Organization. Results and conclusions: This study contributed to the population, by addressing such a common theme in old age, demonstrating to them the importance of physical exercise in the treatment of disease. These actions developed with the elderly have contributed to a more humanistic training of the academics, encouraging the search for improvements as professionals.