18% country’s adult affected with hypertension (a.k.a silent killer)

[Naveed Yaseen]

Hypertension is the commonest chronic illness throughout the world affecting more than 18% of the adult population of Pakistan.

Addressing the participants of the 12th annual symposium of Pakistan Hypertension League (PHL) here on Saturday organised by the Federal Government Services Hospital, President (PHL) Prof Muhammad Ishaq said that strokes and heart attacks account from over 25% of the global mortality and hypertension is one of the primary risk factor.

He said there is need to create awareness among masses about hypertension which may cause several other health problems, adding, the only way to reduce mortality is to control high blood pressure (hypertension).

He said PHL in line with the policies of World Hypertension Leaguer is making all efforts to contain this epidemic. He added PHL is determined to create awareness and educate the community as well as physicians in hypertension management.

Other health experts on the occasion said that hypertension needs proper awareness, treatment and control as 65% of the hypertensive population lives in low-income countries.

They said the silent nature of the disease warrants awareness while BP lowering needs treatment. They added the reduction in morbidity and mortality is related to optimal BP control.

They said increasing levels and prevalence of hypertension cannot regarded as an individual matter. They added uncontrolled hypertension is a major cause of premature death and disability with enormous socio-economic burden on the communities.

They were of view that hypertension which is community problem requires efforts at the community level including integrated efforts of medical societies, improving health delivery system and ensuring optimal BP control by physicians.

They said adoption of healthy life style and modification of risk factors of hypertension needs to be taught at the educational institutions. They said hypertension must be recognized as an epidemic equivalent in the country.

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