PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND DIETARY KNOWLEDGE AMONG ELDERLY WITH HYPERTENSION: A STUDY IN RANGKASBITUNG PHC

Abstract

Hypertension is a condition in which the systolic blood pressure—the pressure when the heart contracts—exceeds 130 mmHg and/or the diastolic blood pressure—the pressure when the heart is at rest—exceeds 80 mmHg. Many factors influence the development of hypertension, including genetic factors, age, and gender; physical activity and sodium intake (diet) may also be associated with the occurrence of hypertension. This study aims to determine the relationship between physical activity and dietary knowledge and the incidence of hypertension in the catchment area of the Rangkasbitung Community Health Centre. The study is analytical in nature, employing a cross-sectional research design, wherein the independent variables (physical activity and dietary knowledge) and the dependent variable (hypertension) are examined simultaneously. The study population comprised 33 elderly individuals from Kampung Cileuweung, selected using convenience sampling. Data were collected using a questionnaire. The data analysis used in this study was univariate and bivariate analysis. The results showed a significant association between physical activity (p=0.02) and dietary knowledge (p=0.017) and the incidence of hypertension in the service area of the Rangkasbitung Community Health Centre. Based on this study, it is hoped that respondents will be able to control their blood pressure by improving their lifestyle through dietary control and regular exercise.