Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, May 17: Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, has become an escalating public health concern, silently impacting one in four adults. Often termed the “silent killer”, this condition frequently remains undiagnosed, yet its potential consequences can be severe, including heart attacks, strokes, and brain haemorrhages.
Despite its widespread prevalence, a large number of people with hypertension remain unaware of their condition. This lack of awareness hampers timely diagnosis and treatment, increasing the risk of serious complications.
Dr Mohammad Salim Khan, Head of the Department of Community Medicine at GMC Srinagar said, “Hypertension affects approximately one in four adults in our population. The majority of hypertensive patients are unaware of their condition, which can lead to cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes. Among those diagnosed, many do not take their medications regularly.”
He added, “Sedentary lifestyles, consumption of fast food high in salt, sugar, and oil, avoidance of physical activity, use of addictive substances like cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs and stress are major contributing factors to hypertension.”
Dr Khan advised the public to adopt positive lifestyle changes, including avoiding junk food, reducing salt, sugar, and oil intake, managing weight, and increasing physical activity through walking, running, outdoor games, or swimming. He stressed the importance of stress management and resolving conflicts within families and workplaces.
Dr Salim recommended that people over 30 years old should have their blood pressure checked annually, even if they are asymptomatic. Recognising that hypertension and pre-hypertension are increasingly seen among children and adolescents, he suggested that school health programs should include annual blood pressure screenings.
Dr Murtaza from GMC Anantnag highlighted similar concerns, saying, “Every third or fourth adult in our area has hypertension, but almost half of them are unaware of their condition, as hypertension often shows no symptoms during its course, apart from vague complaints attributed to other illnesses.”
He added, “Unfortunately, four out of five hypertensive patients do not keep their blood pressure under control, which can lead to severe consequences like heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure.”
Dr Murtaza said that lifestyle and dietary habits have drastically changed, with increased sedentary behaviour, high intake of salt, sugar, and fats, smoking, and substance abuse contributing to rising hypertension rates, even among school-going children.
“While the recommended maximum salt intake is five grams per day, a Kashmiri typically consumes around 10-15 grams daily,” he said. “Younger individuals, including children and adolescents, are increasingly affected, putting them at risk of early-onset diseases.”
The doctor called for hypertension education programmes in schools, colleges and workplaces, focusing on behavioural and dietary modifications.
“Regular physical activity—such as daily walking—reducing salt, sugar, and fats, avoiding smoking, alcohol, and drugs, coupled with a healthy home and work environment, health counseling, routine blood pressure checkups, and strict adherence to medications, can significantly reduce the burden of hypertension and promote healthier living,” Dr Murtaza added.
