Almost 70 per cent of heart attacks occurs due to lack of timely treatment, Experts at Neuberg Diagnostics Panel

The panellists at Neuberg Diagnostics’ Panel discussion on ‘Hypertension and Heart Attack’, echoed the sentiment that monitoring our vitals is very important to keep heart health in check. Irrespective of any age group and symptoms, people should regularly monitor BP at home through different gadgets available for Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM). There are different conventional risk factors for heart attacks, but hypertension is one of the major factors to affect heart health, as this condition affects the body's arteries.

•    As per National Family Healthy Survey, in last fifteen years and more, almost 21% women and 24% men are hypertensive in India.
•    39% women and 49% men are pre-hypertensive, in India

With high blood pressure, the force of the blood pushing against the artery walls is consistently too high. The heart has to work harder to pump blood. With time, the strain on the heart can cause the heart muscle to weaken and work less effectively. Sooner or later, the overwhelmed heart begins to fail.
 
Diabetes, cholesterol, sedentary lifestyle, over ambition and stress, a lifestyle bereft of exercise, air pollution, smoking and an unhealthy diet and lifestyle are some of the other major reasons behind the rise of heart ailments.

Dr. Vivek Mahajan, Consultant Interventional Cardiology, Fortis Hospital’s Mumbai, said, “There are some drugs which interferes with the action of the blood pressure medication, which further lead to increase in the blood pressure, like few categories of painkillers containing ibuprofen and diclofenac etc. The other group of drugs causing hypertension is nasal drops for cold, contraceptive pills and ayurvedic medicines comprising yashtimadhu and steroids”.
 
He also added, “Now a day’s even school going kids are affected by primary hypertension due to the risk factors like overeating, imbalanced lifestyle, lack in vegetables and fruits consumption etc. Hence its always recommended to target this age group to educate them about prevention of hypertension and achieving better healthy life.
 
Dr. Sandesh Prabhu, Consultant – Cardiology and Electrophysiology, Manipal Hospital’s Whitefield, said “Wehave seen increase in the prevalence of hypertension during the pandemic, commonly due to work from home. Not only in blood pressure but also cholesterol, diabetes etc.”
 
“As per the latest guideline systolic blood pressure more than 130 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure more than80 mm Hg considered to be in stage 1 of hypertension” further Dr. Prabhu added.

Dr. Ajith. K.N, Medical Director, Clinical and Imaging Services, Neuberg Diagnostics,said“As we all know, Prevention is anytime better than cure hence it is very important to get our blood pressure checked in a certain period of an interval, whether we have any symptoms or not. Along with that balanced lifestyle, checking on salt intake, having seasonal fruits, sleep hygiene, ideal body weight and physical activities help to rejuvenate cells and help to stay healthy and prevent blood pressure”
 

Even if someone is under medication and the BP is stable for a long time, then also we should not stop the medication but rather consult the physician and can ask to reduce the power or dose of the medicine, as suggested by the panel lists. Because the low readings can be due to many different factors and not stable.