New Delhi : With cases of hypertension rising rapidly in India, especially among young adults, lowering the BP threshold to below 120/80 mm Hg — as recommended by the American Heart Association (AHA) — could play a major role in raising awareness and ensuring earlier interventions, health experts said on Monday.
Hypertension, also known as the “silent killer,” is one of the most important modifiable risk factors for heart disease, stroke, and premature death.
The AHA’s updated guidelines, issued for the first time since 2017, redefine normal blood pressure as less than 120/80 mm Hg, moving away from the earlier diagnostic threshold of 130/90 mm Hg.
According to Dr. Mukesh Goel, Senior Consultant in Cardiothoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, the new guidelines are highly relevant for India. “Nearly 200 million Indians are estimated to have hypertension. By lowering the threshold, a much larger segment of the population is now classified as hypertensive. This can raise awareness and push for early interventions,” he told IANS.
He added that this change could help combat the undetected nature of hypertension, since many Indians remain unaware of their condition until complications arise.
Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, Chairman of the Scientific Committee, IMA Cochin, explained that hypertension often shows no symptoms in its early stages. Even among those receiving treatment, many fail to achieve adequate control. While stricter control can reduce risks, he cautioned that aggressive treatment might cause side effects like fainting, low BP, and kidney injury. He stressed the need for individualised treatment.
The guidelines also support the use of potassium-based salt substitutes in cooking — a significant step for India, where home-cooked meals often contain high amounts of salt. However, patients with chronic kidney disease or those on certain medications must avoid such substitutes.
According to Dr. Vivekanand Jha, Executive Director of The George Institute for Global Health, India, the guidelines’ push for team-based management involving nurses and community health workers (ASHAs) aligns well with India’s health system, particularly in rural areas.
Experts further highlighted that managing hypertension requires a comprehensive lifestyle approach. This includes avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, and reducing excessive salt intake.
By adopting these new BP guidelines, India can take a step toward curbing the growing epidemic of hypertension and related cardiovascular diseases.
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