1 out of 3 in Mumbai has high BP; excess salt intake to blame | Mumbai News – Times of India

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MUMBAI: While the World Health Organisation says daily salt intake shouldn’t cross 5gm, the average Mumbaikar consumes 8.9gm of salt daily, according to a scientific study by BMC. Every third Mumbaikar in the 18-69 age group has, as a result, got high blood pressure, found the study.
“We have completed the highly scientific STEP survey of over 5,000 Mumbaikars and preliminary analysis shows that 34% of Mumbaikars have hypertension that could be linked to higher intake of salt,” said BMC health commissioner Dr Sanjeev Kumar. The STEP survey, conducted in 2021, looked at the diet, lifestyle and blood parameters of the people in the 18-69 age group.
Dr Kumar said hypertension has emerged as the biggest killer in recent times, and BMC is in the midst of setting up a comprehensive public health plan to tackle it. BMC executive health officer Dr Mangala Gomare said prevalence of hypertension was high in Mumbai; untreated hypertension can lead to strokes and heart attacks.
BMC’s health team revealed a three-level plan beginning with door-to-door screening for hypertension in slum and slum-like pockets by community health workers. “We will also have a NCD corner in our major hospitals to check blood pressure of every registered patient and their accompanying relatives,” he said.
Thirdly, BMC will in the next 45 days set up ‘porta cabins’ as clinics in slums and polyclinics in some of its existing dispensaries for free check-up and treatment.
The goal is to do screening of people over age 30 in the city for hypertension in next 8-9 months, said Dr Kumar.
Those with impaired levels will be directed to civic doctors for medication. “We have begun a lifestyle intervention programme for patients with hypertension and diabetes. Between November 2021 and June 2022, we counselled over 12,000 patients with help of dieticians,” said deputy executive health officer Dr Daksha Shah.

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