LAHORE – Like other parts of the globe, World Hypertension Day is being observed across Pakistan on Friday. The WHD theme this year is ‘Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer’.
As per estimates, about 5.5 million men and 5.3 million women in Pakistan suffer from hypertension. A third of Pakistanis aged more than 45 years have hypertension. The prevalence of hypertension among people 15 years of age is 18pc. In the urban population, it is 16.2pc. Hypertension prevalence in the rural population is 16.2pc. About 70pc of hypertension patients are unaware of their disease.
Like the previous years, the global event is being observed with the usual rituals of holding seminars, walks and free screening camps by public and private sector medical institutions.
Dr Hamid Hussain, Medical Superintendent Gulab Devi Hospital, stressed the need for timely diagnosis and proper management of hypertension to avoid further complications.
Speaking at a walk arranged by Gulab Devi Hospital to raise public awareness about the disease, he said that uncontrolled hypertension could lead to cardiovascular diseases, brain stroke, paralysis and renal failure. Prof Imran Hashmi, Prof Waseem Shafqat, Dr Zaheer Akhtar, nurses and paramedical staff participated in the walk.
Dr Hamid Hassan said that more than 20 million people in Pakistan are suffering from hypertension. He stressed the need for regular checkups and adopting a healthy lifestyle to avoid hypertension. He suggested taking a healthy and balanced diet, avoiding spicy foods and smoking. He also suggested regular exercise for living a healthy and hypertension-free life.
