Periodic checks essential after 40 to keep hypertension under check\, says expert

Vijayawad

Periodic checks essential after 40 to keep hypertension under check, says expert

Health matters: Cardiologist J. Sreemanarayana speaking at an awareness programme on hypertension organised by The Hindu, in association with Andhra Hospitals, in Vijayawada on Friday.

Health matters: Cardiologist J. Sreemanarayana speaking at an awareness programme on hypertension organised by The Hindu, in association with Andhra Hospitals, in Vijayawada on Friday.   | Photo Credit: CH_VIJAYA BHASKAR

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The Hindu and Andhra Hospitals organise programme on World Hypertension Day

Readings of blood pressure (hypertension) vary according to conditions, and precautions should be taken to ensure that proper readings are secured, said Andhra Group of Hospitals chief interventional cardiologist J. Sreemannarayana.

Delivering the key-note address at the World Hypertension Day programme organised jointly by The Hindu and the Andhra Group of Hospitals at the Heart and Brain Institute here on Friday, Dr. Sreemannaryana said blood pressure should be measured immediately after the patient has had coffee or cigarette.

“Know your numbers” (blood pressure readings) is the theme of the World Hypertension Day this year.

The patient should sit for a few minutes and calm down after reaching the hospital or clinic. “There is a difference in reading if the patient has a full bladder and men should not wear full sleeves as it effects the readings” he said.

Big fluctuations in blood pressure cause damage to the fine blood vessels in the vital organs. While heart attack was an important side effect of high blood pressure, brain stroke leading to paralysis was also common and a bigger danger, he said.

There was little that could be done for patients with paralysis, therefore prevention of high blood pressure which caused it was more important.

He said that with increase in age, everyone develops hypertension with the stiffening of blood vessels, so periodic checks were essential after 40 or 50. There was a link between other chronic diseases like diabetes and kidney malfunction with hypertension. Three-forth of the diabetics develop hypertension.

Andhra group of hospitals managing director P.V. Ramana Murthy said hypertension could be controlled by modification of lifestyle, diet and physical activity.

Paediatric cardiologist K. Vikram said there was great danger in the sudden stopping of medication. This causes the blood pressure to shoot up even higher that when the medication was started.

Asked about low blood pressure, Dr. Vikram said there was a great variation in the blood pressures of people. Only those who suffer the symptoms of low blood pressure like giddiness were considered as having low blood pressure. There was no prolonged medical treatment for low BP, he explained.

Later, there was an interesting interaction session with patients who asked questions about reasons for pain after an angiogram, whether there were repeated paralytic strokes and the symptoms of low BP.

Neurologist Cherukuri Pavan Kumar and Chief Marketing manager A Nagendra Babu participated.

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