According to the results of a study carried out by the National Heart and Medical Assistance Foundation (FUNDACAM), prostate cancer and high blood pressure are two of the biggest health problems in the southwest of the country, especially in the municipality of Las Matas de Farfan, in San Juan de la Maguana province.
The study showed that 29% of men in the municipality had some risk factors for the disease whereas 38% of the population had high blood pressure, with 15% at a very serious level.
The president of the foundation, Doctor Tirso Roa Castillo, said that of the 3,200 patients they saw, 400 were used as a sample to test for prostate cancer, and they were tested for PSA (a blood test for Prostate Cancer) with 29% being found to have a risk factor.
He said that most of the patients were farm workers aged between 35 and 70 and that he was concerned at the findings, especially the rate of prostate cancer as so far, what causes it is unknown and it is often only detected by medical procedures and laboratory tests, but it needs immediate attention, either drugs or surgery.
The high blood pressure issue was attributed to the high consumption of salt, sedentary life styles, tobacco and diabetes.
www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2013/9/16/292404/Cancer-de-prostata-y-la-hipertension-arterial-sigue-en-ascenso-en-la