After reaching 18 years of age, one should get health check-ups done annually to prevent hypertension. At least 25 per cent of Indians suffer from the ailment, former chairman, Board of Governors, American Society of Hypertension and director, Apollo Institute for Blood Pressure Management, Hyderabad, Dr S Venkata Ram said.
Explaining hypertension and its symptoms, he said hypertension, also referred to as high blood pressure, is a condition in which the arteries have persistently elevated blood pressure.
“Every time the heart beats, it pumps blood to the whole body through arteries. Blood pressure is the force with which blood is pushed against blood vessel walls. The higher the pressure, the harder the heart has to pump,” Dr Ram explained.
He said if hypertension is not diagnosed and treated early, the condition can damage the heart, blood vessels, kidneys and other parts of the body. “People often learn that they have hypertension after substantial damage has already been done,” said Dr Ram.