The ideal blood pressure is not the age of +100 years, according to a doctor

Hypertension in young and middle-aged people is a growing health problem in Andhra Pradesh as more and more people are being diagnosed with high blood pressure which can lead to diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

In a statewide survey conducted by the Health Department of the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases among people ages 30 and older, about 16% of the total 2.67 million people screened had NCDs. hypertension or were suspected of having it.

As of March 2023, up to 18.41 lakh (6.87%) people in the age group have been confirmed to have hypertension and 24.46 lakh people with suspected hypertension are being further investigated. Of the total suspected cases, 8.80,000 people are taking medication regularly.

Other surveys, including the 2019-2021 National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), also suggest that many people in the state have high blood pressure. According to NFHS-5, 13% of women ages 15 to 49 in the state have high blood pressure, and 19% of men in the same age group have high blood pressure.

On the eve of World Hypertension Day, celebrated on May 17, doctors stressed the need for correct diagnosis of hypertension.

Chief Executive Officer and Chief Cardiologist of Ramesh Hospitals, Dr. P. Ramesh Babu, said the theme for World Hypertension Day 2023 is “Measure your blood pressure accurately, control it, live longer”.

“As the theme suggests, it is important to accurately measure blood pressure and act accordingly. In most cases, blood pressure measurement is not performed accurately. BP’s automatic instruments are precise but they must be handled with sensitivity without moving them often. There are many misconceptions and misconceptions about hypertension and blood pressure measurement. We see many people with extreme blood pressure levels unaware of their condition. People with high, uncontrolled blood pressure levels are most likely to suffer from heart attacks and strokes,” Dr Ramesh said.

“There are misconceptions about ideal blood pressure levels. It is mistakenly believed that age + 100 years is normal blood pressure. A sixty-year-old thinks it’s fine to have a blood pressure of 160. For any person, the ideal blood pressure should be 120 to 130 and up to 140 is considered normal,” he said. declared.

Dr. Ramesh said that apart from medication, proper physical exercise, yoga and change in eating habits will help people control their hypertension. Getting screened once a year is necessary for every person after 30 to detect pre-hypertension and pre-diabetes, he added.

Hypertension or high blood pressure is a condition in which the blood vessels have constantly increased pressure. It is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease and brain disease. In addition to genetic risk factors, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, alcohol and tobacco consumption, and excess body weight cause hypertension.