KOCHI: The silent killer is stalking Kochi. According to Dr Sunny P Orathel, general physician, Rajagiri Hospital, the number of hypertensive patients has increased rapidly in the recent years in Kochi.
“Diabetes, lack of exercise and obesity are the major causes of hypertension,” he said. “The government is doing nothing to promote the importance of exercising. It should set up adequate facilities too.”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) observes May 17 every year as the World Hypertension Day. It organises many programmes to spread awareness about the silent killer that affects more than one in three adults or about one billion people.
The exact causes of high blood pressure are not known, but several factors and conditions like smoking, obesity, stress, too much usage of salt, genetics, older age, sleep apnoea, adrenal thyroid disorders might act as factors. Anxiety too has been considered to be a factor.
“Hypertension can affect those suffering from anxiety. But it is seen most commonly in those suffering from anxiety attacks. Intense anxiety and hyperventilation during an attack causes a rapid rise in blood pressure,” said Dr Arun Kumar K, consultant psychiatrist, PVS Memorial Hospital Kochi.
Stress too can be a factor. Dr Alex Mathew, psychologist, Chittoor, said, “The effect of stress on blood pressure is of increasing relevance and importance. Although stress may not directly cause hypertension, it can lead to repeated blood pressure elevations, which eventually may lead to hypertension.”
Though it seems to be an unavoidable disease it can be controlled to a certain level through early diagnosis. Dr Orathel said, “Keep exercising and avoid fast food to beat hypertension.”
The pressure factor
Around 33% urban and 25% rural Indians are hypertensive. Of these, 25% rural and 42% urban Indians are aware of their hypertensive status. Only 25% rural and 38% of urban Indians are being treated for hypertension. One-tenth of rural and one-fifth of urban Indian hypertensive population have their BP under control.
The scenario in Kochi is equivalent to all other metro cities in case of hypertension. The situation in India is more alarming as hypertension is directly responsible for 57% of all stroke deaths and 24% of all coronary heart disease deaths in India.
Taking precautions
Some of the precautions prescribed by WHL for hypertension includes healthy diet, physical activities, stoppage of tobacco and alcohol and managing stress in a healthy way.
— Meghana Rajan, Jenna Goerge,Divyamanjari P