1 In 3 Indians Between 18-54 Years Of Age Have Never Had Their BP Checked: ICMR Study

A recent study by ICMR-National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (ICMR-NCDIR) found that nearly 3 out of every 10 people in India, aged 18 to 54 years, have never had their blood pressure checked.

Blood pressure testing: Which states get their BP tested?

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According to the ICMR-NCDIR study, the southern regions of India show the highest average rates, with 76% of people ever having their blood pressure measured, with notable percentages in UT/states like Lakshadweep (91%), Kerala (89%), Tamil Nadu (83%), and Puducherry (83%).?

In contrast, in northern India, 70% of people reported having their blood pressure checked at least once.?

However, the study reveals lower percentages in specific regions and states, such as Madhya Pradesh (62.4%) and Chhattisgarh (62%) in the central region, Rajasthan (58%) in the north, Odisha (56%) and Jharkhand (60%) in the east, Gujarat (58%) in the west, and Nagaland (58%) in the northeast.

What is BP and why is it important to get it tested?

Blood pressure refers to the force exerted by blood against the walls of your arteries, typically measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). A normal blood pressure reading is less than 120/80 mmHg.?

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When your blood pressure is high, it means the pressure in your arteries is elevated, which requires the heart to work harder to pump blood throughout the body.

This can have negative effects and lead to various health issues like heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure, according to the American Heart Association.?

While it was previously suggested to test blood pressure after the age of 40, due to the increasing occurrence of heart attacks, strokes, and other non-communicable diseases at younger ages, it is now recommended to get tested as early as 25 years old.

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