Hypertension on the rise
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is one of the major non-communicable diseases, affecting over a quarter of the adult population in Bangladesh.
According to the World Health Organization, about 17 million deaths occur worldwide due to CVDs, of which hypertension alone accounts for 9.4 million.
A government survey claims an estimated 12 million people in Bangladesh (6.2 million men and 5.8 million women) are hypertensive. Among them, 25 to 40 year old people are more prone to the malady.
Rapid urbanisation, increased life expectancy, unhealthy diet and changes of lifestyle have led to an increase in the rate of CVD, including hypertension in Bangladesh.
The risk of hypertension is significantly associated with older age, sex, education, place of residence, working status, workplace, wealth index and diabetes.
Hypertension significantly contributes to the burden of cardiovascular diseases, stroke, kidney failure, disability, and premature death. It is also identified as a global disease burden, and ranked third as a cause of disability-adjusted life years.
Bangladesh Health Watch also revealed a report titled ‘Non-Communicable Diseases in Bangladesh: Current Scenario and Future Directions’ saying that around 14 percent Bangladeshi adults suffer from hypertension.
A study in rural and semi-urban surveillance site found the prevalence of hypertension to be more than double among semi-urban population (24 percent) compared to that among the rural population (11 percent).
World Life Expectancy sources say, Bangladesh is now ranked 77, where 17.92 percent people are suffering from hypertension.
Health experts are of the opinion that older age, higher education, female gender and higher socio-economic status are found to be associated with hypertension.
Overweight or obesity is also a major risk factor for hypertension, both in urban and rural areas.
Physical inactivity or sedentary lifestyle is often responsible for developing hypertension.
In addition, high salt intake constitutes a major risk factor for hypertension. The salt intake by Bangladeshis is much higher than that recommended by the WHO.
Prof Dr Asit Baran Adhikary, chairman of Cardiac Surgery Department at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, said, “The risk of hypertension increases with age. Persons of any age can be affected with hypertension.”
“People with a family history of hypertension tend to be at greater risk. Also, people who are overweight or obese, smoke tobacco, take excessive alcohol, do not exercise, and take extra salt have a greater possibility of being inflicted by hypertension.”
“Hypertension does not only cause heart disease and stroke. Untreated hypertension can cause kidney disease and failure, affect eyesight, worsen many complications associated with diabetes, and so much more,” said Prof Dr Abdullah-Al-Safi Majumder of cardiology department at National Institution of Cardiovascular Diseases.
“There is a great risk for 25 to 40 aged people to have serious heart attack, if hypertension goes untreated. And there is hardly chance to be alive even after one heart attack,” he added.
When contacted, Prof Dr Abul Kalam Azad, director general of Directorate General of Health Services, said, “Most people, particularly the young, are unaware of the outcome of hypertension. It is a silent killer. Prevention and precaution are much better to overcome the disease.”
“Everyone has the power to prevent high blood pressure by adopting a healthy lifestyle—eating a balanced diet, reducing salt, regularly exercising, avoiding harmful use of alcohol, leaving tobacco and checking blood pressure regularly.”
According to the World Health Organization, about 17 million deaths occur worldwide due to CVDs, of which hypertension alone accounts for 9.4 million.
A government survey claims an estimated 12 million people in Bangladesh (6.2 million men and 5.8 million women) are hypertensive. Among them, 25 to 40 year old people are more prone to the malady.
Rapid urbanisation, increased life expectancy, unhealthy diet and changes of lifestyle have led to an increase in the rate of CVD, including hypertension in Bangladesh.
The risk of hypertension is significantly associated with older age, sex, education, place of residence, working status, workplace, wealth index and diabetes.
Hypertension significantly contributes to the burden of cardiovascular diseases, stroke, kidney failure, disability, and premature death. It is also identified as a global disease burden, and ranked third as a cause of disability-adjusted life years.
Bangladesh Health Watch also revealed a report titled ‘Non-Communicable Diseases in Bangladesh: Current Scenario and Future Directions’ saying that around 14 percent Bangladeshi adults suffer from hypertension.
A study in rural and semi-urban surveillance site found the prevalence of hypertension to be more than double among semi-urban population (24 percent) compared to that among the rural population (11 percent).
World Life Expectancy sources say, Bangladesh is now ranked 77, where 17.92 percent people are suffering from hypertension.
Health experts are of the opinion that older age, higher education, female gender and higher socio-economic status are found to be associated with hypertension.
Overweight or obesity is also a major risk factor for hypertension, both in urban and rural areas.
Physical inactivity or sedentary lifestyle is often responsible for developing hypertension.
In addition, high salt intake constitutes a major risk factor for hypertension. The salt intake by Bangladeshis is much higher than that recommended by the WHO.
Prof Dr Asit Baran Adhikary, chairman of Cardiac Surgery Department at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, said, “The risk of hypertension increases with age. Persons of any age can be affected with hypertension.”
“People with a family history of hypertension tend to be at greater risk. Also, people who are overweight or obese, smoke tobacco, take excessive alcohol, do not exercise, and take extra salt have a greater possibility of being inflicted by hypertension.”
“Hypertension does not only cause heart disease and stroke. Untreated hypertension can cause kidney disease and failure, affect eyesight, worsen many complications associated with diabetes, and so much more,” said Prof Dr Abdullah-Al-Safi Majumder of cardiology department at National Institution of Cardiovascular Diseases.
“There is a great risk for 25 to 40 aged people to have serious heart attack, if hypertension goes untreated. And there is hardly chance to be alive even after one heart attack,” he added.
When contacted, Prof Dr Abul Kalam Azad, director general of Directorate General of Health Services, said, “Most people, particularly the young, are unaware of the outcome of hypertension. It is a silent killer. Prevention and precaution are much better to overcome the disease.”
“Everyone has the power to prevent high blood pressure by adopting a healthy lifestyle—eating a balanced diet, reducing salt, regularly exercising, avoiding harmful use of alcohol, leaving tobacco and checking blood pressure regularly.”
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