By Tricitynews Reporter
Chandigarh
31st May:- Health & Family Welfare Minister Punjab Brahm Mohindra here
today launched a comprehensive health awareness campaign on Hypertension and
flagged off van for awareness campaign that will cover the major village and
towns of Punjab for 30 days to generate awareness on non communicable diseases.
Speaking on the occasion
Brahm Mohindra stated that hypertension is the commonest non-communicable
disease and it usually starts in the most productive age group that is around
30-35 years of age. As per NFHS-4, mild hypertension (140-159/90-99 mm Hg) is
seen among 10.5% women and 17.4% men, while 2.7% women and 4.4% men have
moderate to severe hypertension in 15-49 years age group. Another
non-communicable disease risk factor study conducted by PGIMER, Chandigarh
estimated that 40.1% population had raised blood pressure whereas it was higher
at 61% (47% men and 31.5% women) in population aged 45-69 years.
Health Minister said
further that Department of Health & Family Welfare has started screening of
all individuals above 30 years of age under 'National Programme for Prevention
and Control of Cancer', Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke. The
screening is being done at population level through ANMs and at institution
level by doctors. Till date 22, 68,537 individuals have been screened for these
diseases and 5,35,620 (23.6%) persons have been found to be suffering from
Hypertension. During 2016-17, on an average 1,13,160 individuals were screened
every month out of which 14,250 (12.6%) were found hypertensive and put on
treatment.
Brahm Mohindra said that
the treatment for hypertension is available free of cost for everyone at all
government health institutions. Any individual who is detected to be suffering
from hypertension is put on treatment by the doctor and the follow up is given
at the village level by ANM. All hypertensive are given medicine for one month
at a time so as to minimize their visits to the health institutions.
Brahm Mohindra said that
individuals suffering from Diabetes are more prone to hypertension, cardiac
disease and stroke. It causes changes in the eye which may lead to blindness,
affects kidneys, liver, heart as well as brain. Hypertension predisposes the
individual to cardiac disease and stroke.
Health Minister further
said that hypertension is caused by multiple factors including poor diet- rich
in saturated fat, high salt intake, stress, lack of exercise, sedentary
lifestyle, smoking and use of other forms of tobacco, alcohol intake and a
positive family history. Health & Family Welfare Minister said that
Prevention of hypertension along with early detection and timely treatment is
very important for maintaining good health of the community.
