Pressure Chamber

Public health experts estimate that the number of patients in India with HBP is likely to rise from about 140 million in 2008 to nearly 215 million by 2030,along with an increase in the risk of related complications such as heart attacks,strokes,kidney diseases and other serious illnesses.

According to Dr Samlee Plianbangchang,WHO regional director for South-East Asia,“High blood pressure and related non-communicable diseases have become rampant. Globalisation and unplanned urbanisation is driving unhealthy lifestyle patterns,such as increased consumption of processed foods containing excessive salt,low level of physical activity and use of tobacco and alcohol. a healthy lifestyle needs to be promoted.”

Doctors say that HBP remains inadequately controlled in India as a large number of cases go undetected. Dr Sailesh Mohan,senior research scientist and associate professor,Public Health Foundation of India,says,“The incidence of high blood pressure ranges from 20 to 39 per cent in urban areas and 12 to 17 per cent in rural areas.” The problem is further compounded as HBP is a silent killer and can remain undetected,manifesting only years later as a serious heart problem.

Dr Rohit Sobti,region physician from Regional Medical Services — WHO,adds,“A significant chunk of population is not aware that they are suffering from high blood pressure until they get detected during a routine check-up or get diagnosed when they visit medical centres for some other disease. Some times,people are so ignorant that unless they have a heart attack or stroke,they don’t realise the severity of the problem and keep turning their face away from medical attention.”

However,doctors emphasise that people should know that HBP is both preventable and treatable. For many people,lifestyle changes such as cutting down on salt,eating a balanced diet,avoiding alcohol,getting a regular exercise and avoiding tobacco are sufficient to control HBP. For others,medication is required,which is effective when taken as prescribed.

“Merely sticking to medicine and controlling dietary and lifestyle regime can easily avert any complications arising out of high blood pressure. It is important to get the BP checked on a regular basis and avoid self-medication,” says Sobti.

A voluntary target proposed by WHO,which is expected to be approved by the World Health Assembly in May this year,is to achieve a 30 per cent reduction in average salt consumption by 2025 from the consumption level in the year 2010.

Telling Facts

High blood pressure is one of the most important causes of premature death worldwide,killing nearly 9.4 million people every year globally

Over 1 billion people are living with high blood pressure. In 2008,the overall prevalence of high blood pressure in adults globally,aged 25 and above,was around 40 per cent

Among all WHO regions,the prevalence of raised blood pressure was highest in Africa (46 per cent) and lowest in the US (35 per cent). In South-East Asia,36 per cent of adults have hypertension.

The prevalence of raised blood pressure in low,lower-middle and upper-middle income countries is higher (40 per cent) than in high-income countries (35 per cent).