Hypertension is silently affecting Jammu and Kashmir, with recent data revealing that only 36% of women and 31% of men in the Union Territory have normal blood pressure levels.
They said a large portion of the population is already in the pre-hypertensive stage, which increases their risk of developing full-blown hypertension if preventive measures are not adopted.
According to information from the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5), 11% of women and 10% of men aged 15–49 in J&K are living with hypertension. Alarmingly, 57% of the population falls into the pre-hypertensive category—a warning sign that calls for immediate attention.
The risk of high blood pressure escalates with age. Among youth aged 15–19, only 3% are hypertensive, but this figure rises steadily with age—4% in the 20–24 age group, 7% in 25–29, 8.5% in 30–34, 14% in 35–39, 20% in 40–45, and reaching 24% in the 45–49 age bracket, the data reveals.
Similarly, the proportion of people with normal blood pressure declines from about 60% in the 15–19 age group to just 17% among those aged 45–49. Conversely, the percentage in the pre-hypertensive stage increases from 40% in the youngest group to 62% in the oldest.
Urban areas report slightly higher hypertension rates. Approximately 10.3% of women in urban J&K are hypertensive compared to 9.7% in rural areas. The pattern is similar among men.
Data also shows that 7% of women suffer from Stage 1 hypertension, 1% from Stage 2, and less than 1% from Stage 3. Additionally, a small percentage of women—around 0.3%—are on medication despite having normal readings. Among men, 8% have Stage 1 hypertension, 1% Stage 2, 0.2% Stage 3, with some on medication despite normal blood pressure.
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, occurs when the force of blood against artery walls is consistently too high. It is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, kidney problems and brain disorders, and is a leading cause of premature death worldwide.
Key risk factors include unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, alcohol and tobacco consumption, and being overweight or obese.
Health experts advise people to adopt healthier lifestyles, undergo regular blood pressure screenings and seek timely medical intervention to prevent serious complications—(KNO)
