Hypertension in Pakistan - leading health disorder

Hypertension in Pakistan is the most common health disorder with every other person suffering from it, especially above 40 years of age.

According to the report of National health survey of Pakistan:

“Hypertension affects 18% of adults and 33% of adults above 45 years old.”

In another report, it was shown that

“18% of people in Pakistan suffer from hypertension with every third person over the age of 40 becoming increasingly vulnerable to a wide range of diseases.”

Hypertension [high blood pressure] in Pakistan is declared to be the major risk factor for Cardiac diseases, cerebrovascular disease and renal [kidney] diseases, playing significant part in majority of brain hemorrhages, cardiac arrests and other organ failures. Death and paralysis due to blood pressure increase are also common in a wide range of population.

Causes of hypertension:

Hypertension is like inheritance that runs down from generation to generations, therefore keeping a record of family history is very important. You are very likely to be hypertensive if any of your parents have this disorder. If hypertension runs in your genes, taking precautions from early age is very useful.

Other than family history, obesity plays important role in prevalence of hypertension in Pakistan. Obese people are exposed to hypertension on a very large scale, due to lack of exercise and physical movements.

Sex – Males are at higher risk of developing Hypertension than females.

Other causes of hypertension include too much salt intake, smoking, drug use, stress and high lipid consumption diet (oily foods).

Treating hypertension:

Daily exercise, DASH (Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension) diet, reducing drug use, decreased salt intake, increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, proper medication(if you are hypertensive), body weight management and low fat diet are some steps that needs to be adopted in everyday lifestyle to control hypertension.

Blood pressure ranges: