Hypertension a major health hazard: Expert

Jammu, May 19

Dr Sushil Sharma, head of department of cardiology, Government Medical College, Jammu, on Sunday conducted a day-long camp at Nanak Nagar to highlight various complications associated with hypertension.

He said high blood pressure was a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, heart failure, cerebro-vascular disease, renal failure and arterial fibrillation.

“The problem can be gauged from the fact that many patients are totally unaware of its presence until a complication occurs,” the doctor said. More than 300 people were checked, diagnosed and free medicines were given as per requirements at the camp.

He also highlighted the need to shun sedentary lifestyle and discourage dependence on saturated fats and high-salt diet.

Most importantly, maintaining a healthy body weight and monitoring blood pressure regularly was an economic, viable and easy strategy to delay the onset of this problem among vulnerable population, Dr Sharma said.

Also, a close collaboration between the physician and the patient is needed to optimise better outcome, he added.— TNS