Security Threat Revealed

Published on Wednesday, February 14, 2018

In November 2014 in Riyadh at the IFSEC & OSH Arabia Conference, staff at GulfNet Solutions Company Limited (GNS) conducted a research project to investigate how well men working in or associated with the Saudi Security Industry were managing their blood pressure. It is a well-established fact that blood pressure management is an important element of good health. Blood pressure management is particularly essential for individuals working in high stress positions in the Saudi Security Industry.

The GulfNet Solutions' research showed that about two-thirds (66.5%) of the men surveyed at the conference did not have any idea what their blood pressure should be on measurement. Only 5.7 percent guessed their measured blood pressure within five points.  Unfortunately, one-fourth (25.7%) of the people who had their blood pressure measured by the GulfNet Solutions Company Limited (GNS) staff, had a blood pressure reading higher than 130/90. Worst of all, more than 82 percent of those individuals with a blood pressure reading on the high side hadn't anticipated it.

According to the Mayo Clinic, “Most people with high blood pressure have no signs or symptoms, even if blood pressure readings reach dangerously high levels.”  The Mayo Clinic also advises that uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to heart attack, stroke, aneurysm, heart failure, kidney damage and trouble with memory or understanding.

“Professionals working in any area of security are often under high stress,” said Mohammad Fareed Shinwari, Managing Director, GulfNet Solutions Company Limited (GNS). “Individuals working in the Information Security field may be under even greater stress - dealing with attackers that are not seen and with new exploits arising daily. Security personnel must guard their health so that they will be in the best physical and mental condition to protect corporate and national security. Having effective security systems and solutions in place can go a long way to reduce staff stress.”

During the research, any man registering a blood pressure reading above 131/91 was asked to have his blood pressure checked again by his family physician. The 13 people who showed blood pressure readings above 180 Systolic and/or above 110 Diastolic were requested to attend a clinic for urgent treatment.  One man whose blood pressure reading was 200/127 was immediately taken to a hospital.

It should be pointed out that the GulfNet Solutions' sample size was large enough to have implications for the health of the Kingdom's population. As all of the research respondents were adult men, it means that two-thirds of the men in Saudi Arabia do not have proper insight into their blood pressure readings, putting their continued wellbeing and the happiness of their families at risk.

Survey methodology
At the IFSEC & OSH 2014 Conference and Exhibit, November 2-4, 2014, blood pressure readings were taken for 591 adult men. Those taking part in the research were asked to guess their blood pressure. Then they were asked to sit quietly for 15 minutes, after which their blood pressure was recorded by an automated device.

About GulfNet Solutions Company Limited (GNS), Founded in 1997, GulfNet Solutions Company Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ali Zaid Al Quraishi & Brothers (AZAQ). GNS specializes in providing consultation, solutions, services and manpower throughout the GCC in information security, mobility, cloud computing, big data, governance, risk management and compliance. Learn more at www.GNS.com.sa.