Neglect of hypertension will be perilous, say docs

Chilakaluripet (Guntur): AMG India International Director Dr Arun Kumar Kanti Mohanty said there has been steady rise in hypertension cases in the recent past. He addressed a seminar on hypertension to coincide with the World Health Day at Dr Satyavedam School of Nursing here on Sunday. He said a survey revealed that 100 million people in India have been suffering with hypertension. In sixties, the hypertension cases were only five per cent. In 1990, they rose to 20 per cent. The number of cases saw a sudden spurt when it doubled by 2008, he said. Mohanty said about 30 per cent of patients contacted the disease because of lack of exercise besides stress, obesity, smoking and alcoholism. Spicy food, excessive intake of salt and sugar apart from use of tobacco were also contributing for the hypertension cases, he said. Mohanty stressed on the need to change lifestyle to get protected from the disease. Other speakers at the seminar elaborated on different aspects of hypertension such as definition of blood pressure, Systolic and Diastolic blood pressure, its diagnosis, complications and preventive measures. They stressed on the need for creating awareness among masses to check the spread of disease. They said that hypertension was a disease influenced by lifestyle. It could be prevented when people stick to healthy eating habits. Weight should be constantly kept on watch to stay away from the illness. Maintaining physical fitness was another way of preventing the disease. Left untreated, hypertension might lead to complications like paralysis, cerebral haemorrhage, chronic kidney disease, poor vision and heart attack, they warned. The World Health Organisation (WHO) is a specialised non-political health agency of the United Nations with its headquarters at Geneva. Established in 1946, the WHOA observes World Health Day on April 7 by choosing specific theme each year. The purpose of the Day is to focus attention in a specific aspect of public health. This year, hypertension was chosen as the theme, according to an AMG press release.