SHILLONG, Sept 28 - The North East has more high Blood Pressure (BP) cases than rest of the country due to intake of salted-tea and other reasons, doctors claimed here today citing reports.
�The North East has more cases of high BP cases than rest of the country due to intake of salted-tea, food habits and lifestyle,� Dr Manish Kapoor, Assistant Professor of Cardiology department in North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) said here on the eve of World Heart Day.
Asked about the report he was quoting, Kapoor said, the finding is based on a study conducted by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), in Assam and Mizoram, two years back.
He said, the study, conducted in some of the tea growing regions of Assam, found that people drinking salted-tea had high incidences of high BP.
Apart from salted-tea, salt content in other forms of food has also been found high in Mizoram and in the Northeastern region, which is one of the major causes of high BP. The doctor said, the normal daily intake of salt in the diet should not exceed five mg and in the case of people having high BP it should not exceed 2 mg.
�People should avoid taking extra salt (sodium chloride) in food. Whatever, salt that has been added while cooking should be enough for the body requirement,� he added.
In this regard, potato chips and other junk foods are dangerous for BP and other heart diseases for their high salt content. Dr Kapoor further stated a large number of people in NE have heart diseases due to consumption of tobacco and also alcohol.
Advocating moderation, he said, consumption of alcohol in a moderate manner is safe, adding, intake of red wine in fact is �good for the heart.�
Dr Kapoor said that World Heart Day was founded in 2000 to educate people around the globe that heart disease and stroke are the world�s leading causes of death, claiming around 17.3 million lives each year.
India will soon bear the largest burden of heart disease cases globally. In India, out of the estimated population of more than 1.27 billion, about 45 million people suffer from coronary artery disease.
Suggesting physical activities and a balanced diet, consisting of fruits and vegetables as ideal for the heart, Kapoor further said, living in a smoke-free clean healthy environment are keys to a healthy heart.
