Kathmandu, May 17

The number of people with hypertension is going on unchecked in the country with the disease taking its toll especially on young adults, as people embrace modern lifestyle.

According to a latest report, high blood pressure is responsible for 50 per cent cases of cardiovascular diseases among youth, while it plays 74 percent role in causing brain haemorrhage and 90 percent in kidney damage, said cardiologist Dr Om Murti Anil at the Grande International Hospital.

He said in 97 per cent cases, the cause of the disease is unknown. According to a survey conducted by the Nepal Health Research Council in 2013, 25 percent of youth were found suffering from the disease.

The study was conducted among 4,143 people between 15 and 69 years of age in 210 Village Development Committees of 50 districts.

The study is conducted once every five years. Of those suffering from the disease, 31 percent are male and 20.6 percent female.

NHRS officer Dr Krishna Aryal said that the number of people suffering from blood pressure is increasing for want of balanced diet and exercise.

A survey carried out in the Kathmandu Valley by the Centre for Heart Attack Awareness showed that 28 per cent youths between the ages of 18 years and 40 years had hypertension.

The survey also showed that 44 per cent of youths had a risk of hypertension.

Doctors have suggested eating healthy food, doing regular physical exercise and reducing mental stress to reduce the risk of hypertension.

Many people tend to take general fluctuation in blood pressure as normal, but it become life-threatening if timely intervention is not taken.

Senior cardiologist at the Grande International Hospital, Dr Milan Prakash Shrestha said the problem of hypertension was also found among youths between the ages of 20 and 30 years and was emerging as a major health threat.