Hyderabad men top the charts when it comes to suffering from `very high’ level of hypertension, in comparison peoples in other cities such as Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Dehradun, Bhopal and Patna, a Union health ministry survey says. The data, collated from the ministry’s recently released National Family Health Survey-4 (2015-16), shows that 4.5% Hyderabad men suffer from what is known as `very high hypertension (VHH). In contrast, only 3% men in Chennai, 0.5% men in Kolkata and Patna, 0.1% men in Goa, 0.7% men in Bangalore and 1.1% men in Dehradun are found afflicted by VHH.

The survey was conducted in 17 states covering 20, 000 individuals. This category of hypertension comprises those who record a blood pressure level of more than 180/110. For the record, experts say healthy adults should strive to have a BP less than 140/90, in case of those battling diabetes, heart and kidney diseases, it should be less than 135/85.

“It is very difficult to decipher why men here has VHH. One needs to study the risk factors involved to figure out the exact cause. The causes need to be studied further,” said Dr C Venkata S Ram, director, Apollo Institute for Blood Pressure Management. Though not entirely certain, Dr L Sudarshan Reddy, consultant, general physician, Continental Hospital, listed out some possible reasons. “The risk factors could be anything and it may differ from person to person. Genetic and environmental factors, high salt intake, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, family history of hypertension and excess alcohol intake are possible culprits,” he explained.

While quoting from the medical records of Continental Hospital, Reddy added that in 2015 they treated 2,545 hypertensive cases either as out-patients or in-patients.

In the other two forms of hypertension, categorized as “slightly above normal” (BP between 140-159 90-99) and “moderately high hypertension” (BP between 160-179 100-109) too, Hyderabad men recorded a high figure of 16.1% and 3.4% respectively.

While Mumbai topped the overall charts (inclusive of all three categories) with 35.2% of its men surveyed found to be hypertensive, Hyderabad stood second with 24.1% hypertensive men. It was followed by Kolkata (23.3%), Chennai (8.0%) and Bangalore (11.5%).

“If BP is greater than 140/90, it can cause irreparable damage and leave a huge social and financial burden on the family,” warns Dr Venkata Ram, pointing out that undiagnosed and under-treated BP could not only lead to “chronic diseases” like stroke, brain hemorrhage, heart failure, heart attack and kidney failure, but will also leave a big hole in one’s pocket.

In the case of women, Hyderabad figured third in the all three categories of hypertension with 12.3% of women categorized as hypertensive, next to Kolkata’s 12.5% and Mumbai’s 12.5%.

[Prepared by Animesh from media sources]

  Blood Pressure, health, Hyderabad, Hypertension