The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Treating hypertension reduces heart disease risk

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 15, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Treating hypertension reduces heart disease risk

Staff Reporter

Sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, bad eating habits cause problems

AWARENESS : Specialists V.T. Balaraman (second from left) and M.S. Amaresan (extreme right) with Kanyakumari Amaresan and Lakshmikanth Barathi, former commissioner of Health, at the World Hypertension Day programme on Sunday. — PHOTO: R.RAGU

CHENNAI : A large helping of those irresistible chips or working across time zones without a holiday are abuses against which the human body protests.

Heed your body's warnings, say experts. When software professionals spend hours in front of computer monitors with little regard for the need for exercise they are inviting trouble. Such activities adversely affect the flow of blood and finally the effects are seen in the heart, the kidney and finally the brain.

The changes occur gradually as disregard for the needs of the body such as fresh air, plenty of exercise and being connected with nature, pushes the human system into a state of disrepair. To stay healthy, a healthy lifestyle is necessary is the message on World Hypertension Day observed on Sunday.

On Sunday evening, just a handful of people attended the public awareness programme on hypertension held by specialists such as M.S. Amaresan, V.T. Balaraman and Geetha. Dr. Amaresan, a kidney consultant, spoke on methods to prevent hypertension and control high blood pressure. The programme was held in the airy auditorium of Bhavan's Rajaji Vidyashram in Kilpauk. A sedentary lifestyle, lack of exercise, excess carbohydrate/protein rich diet and improper eating habits have resulted in a range of problems. Some of them, such as diabetes and hypertension can be prevented.

But lack of awareness about one's condition could lead to further damage. If hypertension is not taken care of the blood vessels will be damaged leading to premature atherosclerosis. In children with hereditary proneness to hypertension, the kidney will have fewer nephrons. The kidney is a major regulatory organ of sodium and produces a substance called Renin, which is responsible for hypertension. What is important is that people should have their blood pressure checked.

When hypertension is treated the risk of heart disease falls drastically. Doctors give a mix of medicines that will protect the blood vessels, kidney and the heart.

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