Hypertension affects practically all organs, including heart, brain, kidneys, eyes and limbs. So treating this one disease helps in preventing many complications, says superspecialist Dr Sanjeev Kumar Syal, MD (Medicine), DM Cardiologist.
May 17 is being observed as World Hypertension Day since 2006. This year’s World Hypertension Day theme is ‘Measure your blood pressure, control it, live longer’.
Hypertension, commonly called High Blood Pressure (HBP), is actually one of the biggest disease burdens of society, incurring several complications, disabilities, lost work days and impaired quality of life.
Speaking more on the silent killer, Dr Sanjeev Kumar Syal, a well-known Punjab-based cardiologist, said, “The problem with this disease is that it shows practically no symptom early on. A few patients may have headache, uneasiness, blurred vision or chest pain at very high blood pressure but mostly the symptoms occur due to complication in various organs, long after the disease has set in. It affects practically all organs of the body producing ailments of heart, brain, kidneys, eyes and limbs.”
The MD (Medicine), DM in Cardiology, Dr Syal said, “The treatment of complications caused by high BP is difficult, expensive and with limitations. Hence, preventing occurrence of disease by taking care of risk factors and progression of disease by early detection is imperative”.
We can decrease the incidence and prevalence of this disease by propagating awareness regarding modifiable risk factors including high salt intake, trans fats, saturated fats, physical inactivity and obesity. Non-modifiable risk factors include advancing age, heredity, and coexisting disease like diabetes or kidney disease.
The super specialist doctor said, “Eating low salt diet, fruits and vegetables, limiting trans fats, avoiding stress, cutting on alcohol, quitting tobacco, meditation, walking 30 minutes a day and aerobic exercises are few inexpensive yet most effective measures towards safeguarding ourselves”.
“A pill or two a day that keeps your blood pressure normal will keep you away from dreaded HBP-related complications and help you live a long and better life,” he said.
More than 120 crore adults suffer with hypertension worldwide with less than half being aware of their disease. Of those who are diagnosed, less than half are treated and of those treated, less than half have their blood pressure under desirable limits. Two-third of this hypertensive population resides in low and middle-income groups.
Blood pressure above 130/80 mmHg is considered as hypertension and keeping the BP below 140/90 mmHg is the goal of treatment. In India hypertension prevalence is around 27.6% in rural and 33.8% in urban parts.
Prevention of high blood pressure
- Intake of low salt diet
- Eat more fruits and vegetables
- Limit trans fats
- Avoid stress
- Cut on alcohol
- Quit tobacco
- Meditation
- Walk 30 minutes a day
Cure for high BP
- Go for regular health check-up
- Get your blood pressure checked regularly
- A pill or two a day can keep your blood pressure normal
Contact: +91-7986902922
Mail: sanjeev2feb@gmail.com
