#ActNow: Hypertension Can Be Effectively Managed Say Experts

Hypertension
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A recent study done by the Union Health Ministry suggested that one of every eight citizens in India, suffer from high blood pressure.

Maharashtra has apparently seen a meteoric rise in the number of hypertensive patients and evidently lifestyle is playing a significant part in this spurt. Uncontrolled hypertension can lead to serious consequences say experts.

On the occasion of World Hypertension Day, Pune365 spoke to eminent medical professionals to understand this lifestyle disease and its effective management.

Dr Dnyanesh Gaware

Giving insights, Dr Dnyanesh Gaware, MD Medicine, DNB-Cardiology, FACC- Interventional cardiologist, says, “People should understand that if they do not control hypertension, they will have to face the consequences. Many people are not aware of it and take it lightly. But, this can kill by way of the cardio vascular diseases and other disorders that are given way to.

Studies have found that 54% of Indians do not do exercise at all. They are physically inactive and 40% of people are unaware they have got hypertension and only 32% of patients who have put on treatment are under control. This means people do not understand the seriousness of it.

“The problem about hypertension is that there are some patients who are totally asymptomatic and hypertension for them may not exhibit any symptoms. The most important thing to remember is that it can exist without symptoms also.

“In fact, 40% of the patients are not aware that they have blood pressure issues. Most of them come to know after they are diagnosed. This is called silent hypertension.

This is why every individual above the age of 25, should get their blood pressure checked once. Secondly, those patients that have certain risk factors should make it a point to have a routine check-up. It should be a step care management.

“Bringing down sustained blood pressure is important, first by altering lifestyle and then by taking medications as prescribed by an expert cardiologist or physician,” he adds.

Dr. Suresh Nayak

“I see on an average about 10-15 patients every week that are hypertensive,” says Dr Suresh NayakConsulting Physician, Internal Medicine Specialist.

“Earlier we had patients around the age of 40, but that gap has decreased now with people in their late 20s suffering from hypertension and majorly because of an unhealthy lifestyle.

“If these problems are controlled, rectified and cured, hypertension can be prevented,” adds Nayak.

One should have a BP level below 140/90 mmHg, according to the Union health ministry.

Symptoms: headache, dizziness, giddiness, shorting of breath, uneasiness, nosebleed, chest pain, anxiety etc.

Types of hypertension:

Primary: 90% of people have it. This means that there is no definite cause.

Risk factors:  family history of hypertension, obesity, diabetic, excessive intake of salt, lack of exercise, consumption of alcohol, smoking and drugs, cholesterol etc.

Secondary: 5-10% people have this where hypertension is due to an identifiable cause.

Risk factors: narrow kidney arteries, Cushing’s syndrome, Aldosteronism- a condition in which there is excessive secretion of aldosterone, coarctation of the aorta (COA) is a narrowing of the aorta-the major blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart to the body.

Consequences: heart attacks, strokes, blockage in the arteries, brain attacks, atrial fibrillation, peripheral arterial disease, kidney failure, coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, vision loss, chronic kidney disease, and dementia.

Prevention: Biological lifestyle modification, moderate consumption of alcohol, regular aerobic physical activity (40 mins minimum), stress reliever, monitoring weight, diet should be rich in vegetables, fruits, and low in saturated and tran saturated fats, less salt intake- not more than 5 grams per day, a good 6-8 hours of sleep, yoga, meditation and most importantly work-life balance.

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##All medical information shared here are purely for reader awareness. Readers are advised to consult a medical professional for finer details. 

Loveleen Kaur