Get moving, eat right : ‘At 40%, Punjabis more prone to hypertension than Haryanvis’

Two studies conducted by the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) have found the prevalence of hypertension in Punjab at 40%. This is 15% more to Haryana (25%). Experts say Punjabis lack of physical exercise, making them more prone to hypertension.

These studies were primarily aimed at estimating the prevalence of hypertension and pre-hypertension and the risk factors of hypertension in the Punjab and Haryana.

While findings of a survey conducted in Punjab have been published in PLOS One journal (December 2017), a survey conducted in Haryana has been finalised, but not yet published. As per Dr JS Thakur, school of public health, PGI, over 5,000 people from each state were enrolled for the studies and these included participants from every district.

In Punjab, the prevalence of Hypertension and pre-hypertension was 40.1% and 40.8%. Only 30.1% knew they had hypertension or taking treatment, and among them nearly 61% had controlled blood pressure.

According to Dr Sanjay Jain, professor, internal medicine, PGIMER, “The exact cause of hypertension is not known but there are a few basic aggravating factors like high salt intake, obesity, lack of exercise, alcohol intake and others.”

Lack of physical exercise

In Haryana, only 11% people with insufficient physical activity were reported, the percentage was almost three times more in Punjab (30%).

“The main reason for Haryana showing 25% hypertension data is that it has a state policy to promote sports and physical activities like yoga. Hence, Haryanvis are more physically active than Punjabis,” said Dr JS Thakur.

“The worrisome fact is a large burden of undiagnosed cases of hypertension exist among the adult population. It is likely that the high burden of pre-hypertension and hypertension is going to be the key driver of the epidemic of cardiovascular diseases in India,” Dr JS Thakur said.

An ideal salt consumption of salt is 5 gm (one spoon) per person a day but the mean salt intake in both the states was over 8 gm per day per person.

Both the states are known for farm production, but people do not have a habit of eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. In Punjab, 96% people do not take five servings and in Haryana,it is 99%.

Box ‘Health check-up once a year’

Dr Sanjay Jain said, “Every adult must get their blood pressure checked once in a year. As hypertension is a silent killer and if it goes undiagnosed for long, it may impact heart, eyes, brain and kidneys. The blood pressure suddenly shoots up and the damage may be caused in days or weeks.”