Take your health on your stride- Defeat Hypertension

Hypertension or high blood pressure has become a very common disease of today’s world. The aliment which used to be a problem among people over the age of 45 years, is now affecting those in the early 30s. Children are also becoming victim of the disease. There is no guarantee that a person with hypertension will present any symptoms of the condition. Hypertension is emerging as a major public health problem in India and is more prevalent among urban people compared to those of rural area. In early stages of high blood pressure, there are no symptoms. About 33% of people actually do not know that they have high blood pressure, and this ignorance can last for years. Many who are afflicted feel no discomfort until a medical crisis – a heart attack, the rupture of a blood vessel in the brain or a stroke - strikes. As a consequence, high blood pressure is often called the Silent Killer.

Stress is linked with hypertension though there is no medical proof for it. Dr. Aniket Bannerji avers, “Hypertension is the commonest cardiovascular disorder, posing a major public health which accounts for 20-50% of all deaths. There's no proof that stress by itself causes long-term high blood pressure. It may be that other behaviors linked to stress — such as overeating, drinking alcohol and poor sleeping habits — cause high blood pressure. However, adding up short-term stress-related spikes in the blood pressure may put one at risk of developing long-term high blood pressure. So controlling stress could be a preventive measure for hypertension.”

Gyanendra Singh, 25, marketing executive, shares, “my job is target based and job pressure is a part of my life. To ease the stress I started taking alcohol. Within two years of my job I got high blood pressure. I’ve started doing Yoga and changed the job as life is more important to me.”

Technology has eased the life but pushed us towards sedentary life style. Arpita Ghoshal, bank employee, shares, “I’m a working lady with a very tight schedule. My son, Sushant, is seven years old and he is a victim of hypertension. Doctors told me that his sedentary life style is the cause behind the ailment. After school he gets busy with video games and other gadgets. He has very few friends and laptop is his best friend. Now I manage to take him out every now and then to parks and other places. Thank God! He is improving now.”

Sushant is not the only case in the city there are many victims of hypertension. Dr. Ritu Sahai, pediatrician, avers, “15-20% of my patients are of hypertension. Apart from physical ailments like Glomerulonephritis, polysystic kidneys, cardiovascular disease, neuroblastoma drug related and life style related problems cause hypertension in children. Steroids and cough medicines sometimes result in to hypertension. Sedentary lifestyle of children is causing hypertension in them. I always advise parents and guardians to motivate their children for outdoor activities and sports. Obesity is also one of the major causes of hypertension in children. Playing with hi-tech gadgets is good but avoiding outdoor sports is killing. There should be a balance in everything in life.”

Nadia Rehman, nutritionist, advices for obesity, “obesity is one of the major reasons of hypertension. Weight gain occurs when one eats more calories than the body uses. Diet and exercise both are very important for healthy life. A professional advice should be taken before adopting any routine or diet as everybody has a different set of requirements.”

Dr. Sufia Abbasi, gynecologist, Hypertension is the most common medical problem encountered during pregnancy, complicating 2-3% of pregnancies. Although many pregnant women with high blood pressure have healthy babies without serious problems, high blood pressure can be dangerous for both the mother and the fetus. Women with pre-existing, or chronic, high blood pressure are more likely to have certain complications during pregnancy those with normal blood pressure. Women under the age of 20 or over the age of 40 are more prone to high blood pressure during pregnancy. Women with diabetes, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or scleroderma are also victim of hypertension. Obesity is another reason of high blood pressure in pregnant women.  Regular checkups solve most of the problems. Avoiding tobacco and alcohol is a preventive measure for the ailment.”

Dr. Lalita Chowdhary, cardiologist, throws light on the causes and preventions of hypertensions, “Hypertension or high blood pressure is a condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is chronically elevated. The normal level for blood pressure is below 120/80, where 120 represent the systolic measurement (peak pressure in the arteries) and 80 represents the diastolic measurement (minimum pressure in the arteries). Blood pressure between 120/80 and 139/89 is called prehypertension (to denote increased risk of hypertension), and a blood pressure of 140/90 or above is considered hypertension. Smoking, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, sodium sensitivity, insufficient consumption of calcium, potassium and magnesium, vitamin D deficiency, high level of tobacco and alcohol consumption, stress, genetics, chronic kidney disease, adrenal and thyroid problems or tumors are some of the causes of hypertension. Hypertension can best be prevented with improved lifestyle. Proper diet and exercise are key components. It is important to maintain a healthy weight, reduce salt intake, reduce alcohol intake, and reduce stress. Regular checkups control hyper tension in its earliest stages.”

S N Mall, Yoga Guru, suggest Yoga for controlling obesity, smoking and alcohol. It is a natural preventive measure of hypertension that leaves no side effects.

Arjumand Bano