Certain health conditions are so common around us that we often forget their seriousness. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), about 63 per cent of Indians suffer from non-communicable diseases, of which, 27 per cent can be credited to cardiovascular conditions. It is safe to say that hypertension is one of the main reasons behind cardiac diseases in India yet there is a lack of awareness around it.
What is hypertension, really? It is a condition where the walls of the blood vessels thicken up. This affects the blood flow to the heart and causes cholesterol deposits in the arteries, increasing the chances of a stroke. It can cause several health complications like impaired fetal growth, pre-eclampsia, and maternal, foetal, and neonatal morbidity.
One in every five women between the ages of 15 to 49 suffers from undiagnosed hypertension. Women are disproportionately being affected by this condition due to several factors like menopause, socioeconomic burden, a lack of physical movement as well as economic factors that hinder early diagnosis and treatment. Health experts and doctors all over the country are highlighting the need for awareness, early diagnosis, and treatment of hypertension as it is impacting women in their most productive years.
There is a need for a strategic approach that begins with prioritising budget and resource allocation for the detection and treatment of the condition. Women should be made aware of the signs and symptoms of hypertension and importance should be given to healthy food and regular exercise. Care gaps in the system need to be identified, for example, people tend to avoid following up with their doctors about their course of treatment. There is also a lack of trained personnel on the ground level and patients tend to self-manage their disease. Often, symptoms of hypertension are brushed off as psychosomatic from the get-go.
Symptoms of hypertension
According to a 2016 report by The British Journal of General Practice, some of the symptoms of hypertension can be:
· Headaches
· Dizziness
· Hot flushes
· Mood disorders like feeling low, frustration, and irritability
· Chest tightness and palpitations
· Backache
· Constipation
If you’re suffering from any of the above symptoms, we recommend reaching out to your doctor before self-diagnosing yourself.