21% adults in Hyderabad are hypertensive, reveals survey

​Hyderabad: Changes in dietary habits coupled with social stress that come with urbanisation is taking a toll on the health of people of Hyderabad.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare released the report of district household and facility survey (DLHS) carried out in collaboration with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Eli Lilly and Company.

“What is alarming is that hypertension is a silent killer with no external symptoms and people only go to a doctor when complications arise to an extent when they no longer can perform daily activities comfortably.

Many do not show any symptoms even when blood pressure levels though are dangerously high levels,” said Dr Ravinder. Hypertension can trigger organ failure resulting in death.

According to the study, the reported prevalence of hypertension (systolic>140mmHg&diastolic>90 mm Hg) among adults of 18 years and above in Hyderabad is 21 per cent. Hypertension increased 30 times in urban areas in the last two-and-a-half decade.

Sedentary lifestyle, dietary habits and stress are three major factors that trigger hypertension. Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Secretary, Department of Health Research said, “By 2040, it is estimated that 123 million Indians would be living with diabetes.

Changing lifestyles along with reduced physical activity and lack of awareness are some of the key factors that contribute to increase of diabetes.” Every year, roughly 5.8 million Indians die from heart and lung diseases, stroke, cancer and diabetes.

In other words, one in four Indians risks dying from non-communicable diseases (NCD) before they reach the age of 70.