Dimapur, April 7 (MExN): The increasing cases of high blood pressure worldwide has prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to choose ‘hypertension’ as the theme of this year’s World Health Day, which is being observed today. According to a WHO 2012 report, one in three adults worldwide has high blood pressure – a condition that causes around half of all deaths from stroke and heart disease. In India, over 140 million people are believed to be suffering from high blood pressure.
Often referred to as “silent killer” because of its lack of symptoms, hypertension or high/raised blood pressure has become evidently common in Nagaland. Experts say that the mortality rate caused by the disease in Nagaland is high, though there are no statistical reports available.
Dr. Pithungo Kikon who works at the civil hospital, Wokha says the mortality rate at the hospital is highest in cases of stroke. “In my observation, cases of stroke are more in winter. It is the festive season and we do not control our diet. Also, in winter blood vessels are narrowed,” he says while adding that irregular intake of prescribed medicine also worsens the condition.
He informed that most of his hypertension patients are between the ages of 40 – 60 and stated that the number of young people with the disease is still low. He cites the lack of physical exercise may not be the major cause in the context of Nagaland as many of his patients are agricultural workers, who are physically active.
He instead attributes the reason to food habits, excess intake of salt and irregular intake of medicine.
On the other hand, the trend among young people is quite the reverse in the city. Dr. Tali from Zion hospital, Dimapur says the number is increasing among the young people, while acknowledging that hypertension has become generally very common in Nagaland. “We have a lot of hypertension related deaths in our hospital.” He attributes the increase in the disease to food habits, lifestyle, stress, lack of awareness etc. “Even educated people stop taking medicines when they feel normal.”
High blood pressure is a chronic condition and Dr. Tali says it can only be controlled with medication. “You have to take medication for lifelong.”
As a precautionary advice, Dr. Tali says one should regulate the dietary habits – control consumption of red meat, excess salt, restrict calories intake, and stay physically active. “We live a very sedentary life now,’ he says.
Experts suggest that one should take blood pressure reading regularly as in most cases; hypertension does not show any symptoms. High blood pressure if left uncontrolled can cause heart attack, or stroke; blindness, irregularities of heartbeat and heart failure; weakened and narrow blood vessels in kidneys; thickened, narrow or torn blood vessels in the eyes; metabolism syndrome; and trouble with memory or understanding.
According to reports, there is no definitive cause of high blood pressure in most people. Termed as primary or essential hypertension, this condition is developed gradually over many years. Some hypertensions are caused by an underlying condition and are called secondary hypertension and are caused by various conditions and medications including kidney problems, adrenal gland tumors, defects in blood vessels and intake of illegal drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines.
