Medical Facts
HOF focuses on specific problems within our operativo. While we will reach out on behalf of patients to solve other problems, we do not have the capacity to solve all problems. The specific problems we are currently focusing on are listed and explained below. Use the links below to easily navigate through the different areas.
Hypertension
High blood pressure or hypertension is defined as systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg.
It is estimated that 35% of Domicans are hypertensive. Cardiovascular disease is the Dominicans number one cause of death and the second most common cause of premature death.
Along with diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease also account for the majority of the disease burden in the country.
Hypertension on the Body:
The Heart
Hypertension hardens your arteries, which decreases the flow of blood and oxygen to your heart. This can lead to heart disease. In addition, decreased blood flow to the heart can cause: Chest pain, heart failure or heart attack.
The Brain
High blood pressure can burst or block arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the brain. This can cause stroke.
"Brain Illustrations" by Denise Wawrzyniak is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0
"12th March: Kidneys" by scribbletaylor is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
The Kidneys
Adults with diabetes, high blood pressure, or both have a higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease than those without these diseases. Approximately 1 of 3 adults with diabetes and 1 of 5 adults with high blood pressure have chronic kidney disease.
In our clinic,
Blood Pressure Screenings
January 2019
January 2020
Through our work, we work to track our patients. We always work to recruit new patients to our clinic; at our last clinic, we had 98 new patients! Above, charts display the different blood pressure levels among our patients over time. Within one year, while adding new patients, we have seen a 10% reduction in the number of patients presenting with high blood pressure.
Diabetes
Diabetes is defined as a blood sugar level of >200 mg/dL for a random blood draw or a level of > 125 mg/dL for a fasting blood draw.
Diabetes is the fourth leading cause of death in the Dominican. Affecting 10% of the population, it is also the third leading cause of disability in the country. This is compounded by the high obesity rates in the country; 15% of males and 29% of females suffer from obesity.
The most common types of diabetes in the Dominican Republic are Type 2 and Gestational diabetes.
Effects of Diabetes:
Due to increased levels of glucose in the blood, the arteries will eventually harden causing fatty tissues to build up. This ultimately leads to health issues. In particular, the narrowing of the blood vessels leads to cardiovascular complications.
The excess sugar can also cause nerve damage in the extremities, eyes, and ears.
This effect on blood vessels and nerves as well as the excess glucose in the blood causes other issues pertaining to skin health, hormone signaling, kidney disease, healing processes, etc.
In our clinic,
Blood Glucose
June 2019
January 2020
Through our work, we work to track our patients. We always work to recruit new patients to our clinic; at our last clinic, we had 98 new patients! Above, charts display the different blood glucose levels among our patients over time. Within one year, while adding new patients, we have seen a reduction in the number of patients presenting with high blood glucose levels.
Maternal Nutrition
Neonatal deaths are the number one cause of premature death in the Dominican. Maternal and neonatal nutritional complications account for the fourth largest burden of disease in the country.
There are approximately 23 neonatal deaths per 1000 live births and 24 infant deaths per 1000 live births. In the United States, there are 5 infant deaths per 1000. Of children under 5 years of age, approximately 4% are underweight, 7% show stunted growth, and 30% are anemic.
There are also approximately 92 maternal deaths per 100,000 in the country; this is compared to 14 maternal deaths per 100,000 in the United States. Around 33% of pregnant women are anemic, or lack enough red blood cells to sufficiently oxygenate their bodies, and 30% of women of reproductive age are anemic.
How prenatal care helps:
Maternal/Infant Mortality
Iron in prenatal vitamins helps to reduce both maternal and infant mortality by decreasing rates of anemia. Anemia is dangerous because it is a sign of not
Infant IQ
Prenatal vitamins can increase infant IQ by 10-15 points. In our clinics, 61% of our patients have less than a primary education. This increase in IQ can be extremely helpful for not only for the child’s future, but their family as well.
Malnutrition
Prenatal vitamins also help both the infant and mother avoid issues of malnutrition. Overall, the prevalence of stunting and wasting in the country is ~4-7%. By providing access to prenatal vitamins, these rates can be greatly reduced.
Dental Care
In the Dominican Republic, preventative dental care is not common. Most dental care is reliant on extractions which is not only painful and scary but costly as well.
Importance of Fluoride:
By providing fluoride kits to paint kids teeth, the enamel on their teeth is protected for 6 months. This prevents tooth decay and ultimately helps save their teeth!