New Delhi: Rising air pollution and crop burning may be significantly increasing the risk of hypertension among Indians, according to experts from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.
Citing studies conducted by AIIMS and IIT Delhi, cardiology expert Dr Ambuj Roy said that people exposed to higher levels of pollution caused by crop burning showed a much higher prevalence of hypertension. He noted that every increase in PM2.5 exposure could raise the risk of high blood pressure and related complications.
Calling hypertension a “silent but deadly disease,” Dr Roy said that nearly 30 crore Indians are currently living with high blood pressure. He added that hypertension is responsible for around 16 lakh deaths every year in the country, making it one of India’s biggest health concerns.
According to studies by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Family Health Survey (NFHS), nearly one in three adults in urban India and one in four adults in rural India suffer from hypertension. However, awareness and treatment levels remain low. Experts say many people do not even know they have high blood pressure until serious complications such as heart attack, stroke, or kidney failure occur.
Doctors also highlighted the growing impact of unhealthy lifestyle habits on hypertension cases across the country. Increasing consumption of processed foods, obesity, stress, lack of physical activity, and poor sleep patterns are adding to the burden of the disease.
Experts warned that hypertension is no longer limited to urban populations. Rural India is also witnessing a rapid rise in cases due to changing lifestyles and unhealthy eating habits.
Dr Roy advised adults above the age of 25 to get their blood pressure checked regularly, at least once every year. He also stressed that lifestyle changes such as weight loss, regular exercise, healthy eating, and reducing salt intake can help control blood pressure naturally.
Doctors further advised people, especially those already suffering from hypertension, to stay hydrated during heatwave conditions, as dehydration can worsen blood pressure-related complications.
Health experts believe that tackling pollution and improving public awareness about healthy lifestyles will be crucial in controlling India’s growing hypertension crisis.
