MIRPUR (Kashmir English): Like rest of the world, World High Blood Pressure Day was also observed in Azad Jammu Kashmir on Saturday with renewal of the pledge to adopt all preventive measures to avert the threat of hypertension to the human life.
World Hypertension Day is observed every year on May 17 to raise awareness and promote measures for prevention of hypertension besides to detect and control the disease.
This year, on its 20th anniversary, it is being observed across the globe with the theme, “Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control it, Live Longer!”
Main causes of Hypertension
According to a study, excessive use of salt, cigarettes, unhealthy food and air pollution are the main causes of high blood pressure.
The excessive salt consumption, smoking and alcohol consumption, unhealthy foods, physical inactivity and air pollution are the main causes of high blood pressure.
Like all previous years, International Blood Pressure Day is being observed this year too under the auspices of the World Health Organization across Pakistan and Azad Jammu Kashmir.
Observance of the World Hypertension Day was started in 2005 under the auspices of the World Health Organization and other health organizations the world over since global medical experts declared the blood pressure a silent killer.
Medical Superintendent Mirpur AJK Division Teaching Hospital Dr. Sardar Aamir Aziz has advised that generally, everyone should consume 5 grams of salt per day, but everyone is consuming more than 10 grams of salt.
He underlined that lifestyle change also causing high blood pressure.
H said hypertension continues to be a major public health challenge — a silent killer that affects over 294 million people across the South-East Asia Region.
