1 of 1 healthy Indians show early heart disease – Apollo Hospital urges states to reconsider “normal” this World Hypertension Day
Hyderabad: On the occasion of World Hypertension Day, Apollo Hospital is attracting attention to the rising prevalence of hypertension in India. Hypertension in nearly 30% of the adult population in India, hypertension has become one of the major risk factors for heart disease, stroke, renal failure and premature death. Despite its large impact on public health, a large number of people with hypertension have not been diagnosed, highlighting the urgency of the shift in national health care priorities.
The burden of hypertension in India is getting bigger and bigger
Recent studies have shown that hypertension is affecting about 300 million people. It is worth noting that nearly half of the high blood pressure still do not realize their condition. The prevalence rate among young people is significantly high, with 26% of the older people under the age of 45 years old being diagnosed with hypertension.
Dr. Prathap C Reddy, Founder and Chairman of Apollo Hospital “India has overcome many public health crises, and each success is driven by awareness and collective efforts. At Apollo Hospital, we believe prevention is the first prescription. Through initiatives like Apollo Prohealth, we have transformed over 25 million screenings into powerful moves, and to make digitally high monitoring, we can provide health care nationwide.
The health care system in India, especially in major cities, Hyderabad (68%), Delhi (65%) and Chennai (63%), reported the stress of the highest prevalence. This is reflected in the “urban lifestyle”, characterized by chronic stress and the routine accelerated heart risk of sedentary life.
Dr. Preetha Reddy, Executive Vice Chairman of Apollo Hospital, said “Hypertension is no longer a condition that is limited to age or genetics, but is increasingly becoming a silent epidemic among young urban populations. The real challenge is not only measuring blood pressure, but also understanding the cardiovascular risk of individuals. We must go beyond the isolated metrics and, more well known, more stable recognition, more importantly, more importantly, more importantly, more importantly, more identified scopes. Witnessing sedentary lifestyles, poor eating habits, all of which are driving prevention and early interventions, is an imminent choice for citizens.”
Prevention methods: personalization and technical support
There is evidence that 80% of heart attacks and strokes caused by high blood pressure can be prevented by simple lifestyle changes, such as reducing salt intake, increasing physical exercise and stress management. Although medical management of hypertension is crucial, Apollo Hospital advocates a transition to preventive health care. The key to reversing the burden of hypertension is to control your health through regular screening, healthier lifestyle choices, and managing risk factors before serious complications.
Apollo Hospital advocates integrating technology into the country’s healthcare system to enhance the detection and management of hypertension. Advances in artificial intelligence (AI), predictive analytics and telehealth are changing the way health care can be done, allowing for more accurate risk assessments, early detection and ongoing management of hypertension.
National Action Call: Collective Responsibility
Apollo called for a national reconsideration of cardiovascular prevention, urging Indians to start screening early, especially those who are after the age of 30 or have a family history of heart disease. Incorporating advanced imaging techniques such as coronary calcium scores can help uncover hidden risks while adopting preventive treatment strategies for those showing early markers, even asymptomatically, can significantly reduce future complications. Studies have shown that cardiovascular events were reduced by 45–50% when people with early atherosclerosis received guidelines-based interventions.
