Hypertension is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The problem is aggravating across the world. In India around 150 million people are suffering from high blood pressure, with urban populations showing a higher prevalence compared to rural areas. Referring to the well-known ‘50% rule’, according to a report. ‘The Hitavada’ spoke to a section of people who are diagnosed with high BP issue and found that change in habit, for instance, getting up and sleeping early has helped them to prevent them from episodes of very high BP. Additionally, talking to ‘The Hitavada’, experts pressed the need for a healthy life style most importantly sleeping time and food habits. Emphasising significance of following biological clock of body, Dr Vikram Watti, said, now a days it is found that habit of proceed food is increasing among people.

 

It adversely impacts the body. Several factors in human body are inter related but once Blood Pressure starts to get disturbed there is possibility to attract other major problems. Only healthy life style including minimising stress level in routine life is the best preventive medicine. More than one billion people around the world live with hypertension (high blood pressure), which is a major cause of cardiovascular disease and premature death worldwide. World Hypertension Day is observed on every May 17 to raise awareness and promote hypertension prevention, detection and control (deferred to October 17, 2020, due to COVID-19 pandemic). This year’s theme for World Hypertension Day is ‘Measure your Blood Pressure accurately, control it, live longer’. Pointing towards alarming situation, Senior cardiologist Dr Pankaj Manoria strongly suggest, “Hypertension is a silent killer; its early detection and treatment is crucial.” and Dr P C Manoria highlighted that cardiovascular disease remains one of the leading causes of death, and hypertension is the major risk factor behind it.

 

He strongly recommended regular blood pressure monitoring and said that every household should keep an electronic BP monitor for periodic checks. Dr Manoria warned that if blood pressure is not monitored and managed, it can severely damage five major organs - the heart, kidneys, eyes, brain, and legs. He also shared important guidelines to follow while measuring blood pressure to avoid inaccurate readings. Dr Manoria explained, “50% of people are unaware they have hypertension, and among those who do know, a significant portion either do not take medicines or fail to take them regularly.” “Hypertension is a silent killer, but it is easy to detect and inexpensive to treat.” High blood pressure is the main risk factor to develop cardiovascular disease. The burden of hypertension is felt disproportionately in low- and middle-income countries, where two thirds of cases are found, largely due to increased risk factors in those populations in recent decades. What’s more, around half of people living with hypertension are unaware of their condition, putting them at risk of avoidable medical complications and death. To achieve the global target to reduce the prevalence of hypertension by 25% by 2025, WHO and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched the Global Hearts Initiative in 2016.

 

This includes managing cardiovascular diseases, controlling bad habits of addiction, increase physical activity and reduce salt consumption and eliminating trans fat - the initiative aims to improve heart health worldwide. According to the Cardiologist Dr P C Manoria, normal blood pressure is 120/80, and hypertension is diagnosed when the BP rises to 130/80 or above, regardless of age group. He emphasised that a lower heart rate is generally healthier for the body. He further mentioned that lifestyle, genetics, and today’s high-stress living are key contributors to heart disease. This day was first observed on May 14, 2005, and since 2006, May 17 has been globally recognised as World Hypertension Day by the World Hypertension League.

 

Dr Sachin Shinde, a vascular Thoracic Surgeon said there is rise of Coagulopathy (the blood’s ability to coagulate form clots) during post- Covid that led to Atherosclerosis (thickening of Arteries) in simple terms blockage causing heart attacks. Now-a-days it has been found that age bracket of people for hypertension has been changed. As against earlier when people above 50 years age mostly comes with high BP problem, younger patients between the age group of 30-40 years are suffering from Hypertension issue. When I spoke to them I found they are using trans-fatty acids like (pizza, burger ) and having alcohol. Their working hours are not allowing them to do workouts. For which everybody should follow since ‘Prevention is better than cure.’