THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Hypertension (high blood pressure) is slowly seeping into Kerala and it is disturbing nonetheless. As per recent reports, it is learned that 37 per cent of people in Kerala suffer from hypertension. According to a study by the Union Health Ministry, the national average is 28 per cent.

Kerala’s health department lags behind in timely detection of high blood pressure in patients. Even if detected, nine out of ten do not seek adequate treatment. This increases the risk. High blood pressure can cause stroke and heart attack.

People in the Pathanamthitta district have the highest blood pressure in Kerala which is 46.2 per cent while Malappuram is the lowest with 26.7 per cent. Thrissur is leading in diagnosis with 62 per cent. The states of Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh also have high rates of hypertension. The study was conducted on 1.7 million people above the age of 18 in the country.

• 27 crore people in India suffer from hypertension

• 82 per cent of them do not take any medicine

• 91 per cent are uncontrollable

• Currently, 16 per cent of deaths in India are due to hypertension

• 1.2 million - 1.6 million people die every year in India

• If the situation continues, by 2030-35 the number of deaths per year may reach two million

High blood pressure in percentages

Trivandrum- 32.5

Kollam- 38

Pathanamthitta- 46.2

Idukki- 36

Kottayam- 42

Alappuzha -38.9

Ernakulam- 33

Thrissur -39.9

Palakkad -38.6

Malappuram -26.7

Kozhikode -32.6

Wayanad -34.3

Kannur-40

Kasaragod -29.4