Hypertension leads to 10.8 per cent of all deaths in India

Nearly 294 million people are living with hypertension in the Southeast Asia Region. Over 24 million individuals with hypertension are estimated to be on treatment within public health facilities across the region of Southeast Asia. The WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia, Saima Wazed on occasion of Hypertension Day on Friday said Hypertension has turned a driving force in the global epidemic of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and the leading risk factor for death and disability globally.

The health experts called for strengthening the efforts to prevent and control hypertension to meet global and national targets. Ms Wazed said that efforts to prevent and control hypertension should be an integral part of every nation’s journey towards Universal Health Coverage. She underlined that the high intake of salt, tobacco and alcohol, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, stress, and air pollution are key risk factors for the rising prevalence of hypertension.

“Early detection and control are crucial. Among adults with hypertension, half of them are unaware that they have it. Nearly one person in six does not have their blood pressure under control. If uncontrolled, it can lead to heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, and early death,” said WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia.

Talking to the newspaper, Dr Tarun Kumar, Professor of Cardiology, RML Hospital, said hypertension leads to 10.8 per cent of all deaths in India. Hypertension is a major risk factor for heart attack, stroke and renal failure. “The prevalence of hypertension increases with age from 7.5 per cent among adults aged 18-39 to 33.2 per cent among those aged 40-59. More than 90 per cent of adults with hypertension are either undiagnosed or untreated”, he said.