ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To find out prevalence of hypertension amongst Mumbai executives. METHODS: Data of annual medical check-up of 1653 executives was evaluated. Blood pressure was measured as per JNC VI/WHO guidelines. RESULTS: Overall prevalence of hypertension amongst Mumbai executives was 26.86%. 21.28% of executives who were hypertensive based on causal reading were later found to have normal or high normal blood pressure. CONCLUSION: For all epidemiological surveys, blood pressure must be recorded on at least two subsequent occasions after initial screening.
Subject(s)
Blood Pressure Determination/methods , Female , Humans , Hypertension/epidemiology , India/epidemiology , Male , Mass Screening/methods , Occupations , PrevalenceABSTRACT
Lifestyle modifications are universally accepted, not only as the first step in the management of hypertension but also a way to prevent hypertension. The INTERSALT study of 52 communities worldwide showed that weight, among all measured characteristics except age, had the strongest, significant, most consistent and independent correlation with blood pressure. INTERSALT epidemiological data had demonstrated a positive association between sodium intake and level of blood pressure. A rigorous analysis of 23 randomly controlled trials showed that 100 mmol/day reduction in sodium intake was associated with a decline of 5-7 mm Hg (systolic)/2.7 mm Hg (diastolic) in hypertensive subjects. Excessive alcohol consumption is another important risk factor for hypertension and has been reported to account for 5-30% of all hypertension. Moderately intense exercise at 40 to 60% of maximum oxygen consumption e.g., 30 to 45 minutes of brisk walking on 4-5 days a week, can lower blood pressure. The incidence of stroke and coronary artery disease in hypertensive patients who smoke is 2-3 times greater than in non-smoking patients with comparable blood pressure and stopping smoking rapidly reduces this risk. There have been several studies showing the stress reduction with various behavioural procedures, such as yoga, relaxation biofeedback, transcedental mediation and psychotherapy benefit hypertensive patients by lowering their blood pressure.
Subject(s)
Alcohol Drinking/adverse effects , Exercise , Female , Humans , Hypertension/etiology , Life Style , Male , Obesity/complications , Psychotherapy , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , Relaxation Therapy , Risk Factors , Smoking/adverse effects , Sodium Chloride, Dietary/adverse effects , Stress, Psychological/complications , YogaSubject(s)
Accreditation , Education, Medical, Continuing/standards , Guidelines as Topic , Humans , India , Societies, MedicalABSTRACT
In a large multicentre study of 918 hypertensive patients, 28% of subjects were found to be smokers. Smokers had a higher average weight and associated diseases like coronary artery disease and diabetes. It is suggested that higher incidence of coronary artery disease and diabetes in the hypertensive smokers carries a higher risk of further cardiovascular events.