1 in 3 Mumbaiites suffer from high blood pressure, get fit, ensure you are not the one

High blood pressure (BP), which is commonly known as hypertension, is a long-term medical condition in which blood vessels have persistently raised pressure.

One in three Mumbaiites suffer from hypertension, while more than half of them are unaware of the ideal blood pressure range, revealed an online study conducted on the occasion of World Hypertension Day on Wednesday.

As part of the survey, 500 people were questioned about awareness of hypertension.

High blood pressure (BP), which is commonly known as hypertension, is a long-term medical condition in which blood vessels have persistently raised pressure.

Of the 500 participants, 370 were men and 130 women. While 265 were in the 20-30 age group, 212 aged 30-50 and 23 above 50. Of the 194 people from the group who said they had hypertension, 24 were in the 20-30 age group, and 150 among 30-50 age group. Only 23 of the 500 participants went for regular medical check-ups.

The survey found those in the 20-30 age group suffered from hypertension because of irregular sleeping pattern, untimely food habits, eating junk and packaged food items, lack of exercise and sleep.

Doctors said that long term high blood pressure, is a major risk factor for coronary artery disease, stroke, heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, vision loss, and chronic kidney disease. The number of people living with hypertension (high blood pressure) is predicted to be 1.56 billion worldwide by the year 2025

Dr Pradeep Gadge, a diabetologist, said it is necessary for people to check their BP every three months. “Those suffering from hypertension must conduct a check-up once in a week. Youngsters, who are largely affected, are accustomed to an unhealthy lifestyle and get themselves checked,” he said.

He said a steady rise in consumption of fast food or high consumption of salt is one of the major causes of hypertension. “All types of packaged food contain sodium which leads to an increase in the sodium intake,” Dr Gadge said.

“At high-pressure jobs in banking, IT and media, youngsters tend to ignore their health. They rely on packaged food and develop an irregular sleeping and eating pattern,” said Dr Amol Pawar, internal medicine and Cardio diabetes expert, Zen Hospital. “In the past 15 years, we have seen a 10-15% rise in hypertension patients in the 25-40 age group.”