Narayana Hospital Whitefield rolls out Know Your BP campaign

Bengaluru: Narayana Multispecialty Hospital, a unit of Narayana Health in Whitefield near ITPL has embarked on a week-long awareness campaign  at the hospital in Whitefield and the clinic in AECS Layout encouraging people to get their blood pressure checked at the hospital anytime between 10 am to 5 pm till May 17^th observed as World Hypertension Day.

Hypertension is a preventable risk factor that is common yet ignored. While earlier it was more of an inherited risk factor, now owing to the changes in lifestyle like increased smoking, inactivity and faster aging, it is becoming a common observation even among people as young as 35-40 years of age. The normal blood pressure reading is 120/80 mmHg. However, it fluctuates and can increase with age. Even at the age of 60, one should maintain their blood pressure below 150/90 mmHg. If not addressed on time, hypertension has the potential to lead to many other serious ailments and hence early detection is very crucial. Consequences of high blood pressure such as kidney problems and cardiac ailments can be kept under control if high blood pressure is detected and controlled early in life. For the general population, the goal should be to keep it below 140/90 mmHg.

According to the World Health Organisation, Hypertension affects around 1.13 billion people worldwide. Uncontrolled hypertension is one of the leading causes for diseases such heart attack, stroke, dementia and kidney failure.

“Public awareness for hypertension is essential as it is a silent killer epidemic. It increases the tendency for stroke and heart attacks. Hence, the campaign- Know your BP.” emphasized Dr. Jai Babu, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist at Narayana Multispecialty Hospital, Whitefield.

“Through the campaign we want to encourage a healthy lifestyle. In fact, by following a regime that combines right diet and exercise, hypertension can be controlled. In most cases it requires medication for life”, added Dr. Jai Babu.

Prevention of hypertension calls for a healthy diet which should include lots of fruits and vegetables. The salt content in the diet should be kept minimal. Further, avoiding smoking and limiting the consumption of alcohol will also help in keeping the blood pressure under control. Being physically active and maintaining a healthy body weight can go a long way in keeping hypertension at bay.