Causes, implications and symptoms of hypertension in Punjab province

Abstract

Hypertension is rapidly growing problem in developing and developed countries and is a serious concern and challenge for health practitioners and researchers. Hypertension is posing serious threat to individuals, families and national development. The study is planned to determine the prevalence of hypertension, causes, implications and signs and symptoms of hypertension. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in three districts of Punjab province to interview randomly selected 600 male urban respondents of age 30 to 65 years. The average of 2^nd & 3^rd systolic & diastolic B.P readings has been taken for the estimation of prevalence of hypertension. Smoking habits, family blood pressure history, taking extra salt (sodium), overweight, old-age, diabetes, no interest in doing exercise, taking more stress due to the unemployment, family disorganization, burden of large families, nonseriousness at the early stage of blood pressure, avoidance from visiting doctor for regular checkup and unhealthy eating habits were the main causes of hypertension. Analysis demonstrates that majority of the respondents had not the knowledge that severe headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, chest discomfort, heart palpitation, burry and double vision, nausea and vomiting, nose bleed, sleeplessness, lack of concentration/confusion are the major signs & symptoms of high blood pressure. It is suggested that the people should make aware about the healthy lifestyle and the signs & symptoms of high blood pressure and knowledge of actions required to maintain or avoid B.P.