One among three adults in the country suffers from high blood pressure, said Dr. Girish Mathur, Vice Dean, Indian College of Physicians, at the ongoing 74th annual conference of the Association of Physicians (API) — APICON 2019. “Only a half of the population suffering from hypertension get diagnosed for the condition, and only a half of those diagnosed start treatment. Just a half of those on treatment comply with the correct dosage and about half of them manage their blood pressure well,” Dr. Mathur said
“About 72% of the population has low levels of good cholesterol (HDL). These alarming health conditions are largely responsible for the burden of heart attacks, stroke and kidney failure and consequent premature death and disability in the country,” he said.
Other factors
Dr. Sreenivasa Kamath, organising secretary, said that genetic predisposition and environmental issues are also key factors. Youth are the worst hit as they undergo mental and physical stress which affects their health parameters, increasing incidences of diabetes and blood pressure. These conditions also get aggravated by smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, lack of exercise and sleep deprivation, he said.
Dr. Harbir Kaur addressed the issues of hypertension in the elderly. Dr. Ajay Menon talked about early morning BP surge.
The four-day summit will conclude on Sunday.