hypertension

In documenting the voices of hypertensive patients from our pilot study in Tiruvannamalai district, we found an overwhelming number of respondents to be satisfied with their hypertension healthcare services provided through PHCs and the Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam scheme. These services  are certainly improving access to healthcare, particularly among the lower sections of the rural community. However, aspects of the programme still need improvement. Read our report to know more. 
 

Even children are not free of the risk of primary hypertension. Also known as essential hypertension, this increase in blood pressure is without any identifiable medical cause. A healthy diet, and exercise along with medication is effective in treating the condition. #BeatThePressure 

Kidneys need healthy blood vessels to do their important work of filtering extra fluid and waste from the blood. High blood pressure can damage the blood vessels in and leading to the kidneys. In fact,  high blood pressure is one of the leading causes of kidney failure. Keeping your blood pressure at the correct level is easy - fixing a failed kidney is not. #BeatThePressure

 

Just like high blood pressure damages blood vessels in other parts of your body, arteries in your brain can also be impacted by this. If parts of the brain can’t get the oxygen they need from the circulating blood, cells begin to die. All this from a condition that is easy to diagnose, and fix! Why let it come to that? #BeatThePressure

High blood pressure raises the risk of a condition called 'metabolic syndrome'. This syndrome is a cluster of health conditions that can lead to heart disease, stroke and diabetes. High blood pressure has no symptoms, until you begin to experience complications. Why leave it to chance when it is so easy to #KnowYourNumbers and #BeatThePressure

High blood pressure can quietly damage the body for years before symptoms appear. When symptoms do appear, they can include serious conditions like heart failure, or even sudden cardiac death. Make sure you do not leave this to chance. Get your blood pressure checked regularly, and make sure that all treatment is complied with.

Healthy arteries are smooth and flexible, efficiently carrying blood to different parts of your body. When your blood pressure is high, it puts too much pressure on the arteries, tearing the lining. When fatty deposits cling to these tears, it narrows the artery, and impedes the flow of blood. These deposits also make the artery stiff. At some places, the artery can bulge under pressure, where they might break and bleed (called an aneurysm). Blood pressure is serious if left untreated. Check and treat your blood pressure consistently.