Hypertension: New Frontiers, A Textbook of Cardiology released recently from India to the world

Uncontrolled Hypertension: A silent Killer and global tsunami. We must act vocally, locally, focally and globally.

Hypertension: New Frontiers: A Textbook of Cardiology, is the first publication of its unique nature in the form of Textbook of Cardiology published by Jaypee Medical Publishers Pvt. Ltd with enormous information about advances in Hypertension for better CVD Management with morbidity and mortality benefits from India to the world was released recently by President of Cardiological Society of India Dr. MK. Das on the occasion of 72nd Annual Conference of CSI-2020 at Ahmedabad.

The book is an excellent and outstanding educational initiative by key Chief Editor the Dr. H.K. Chopra, along with other chief editors, Principal Editors, International & National Editors.

The textbook on hypertension was long due considering the wealth of data, new strategies of management, advances in diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic technology based on the clinical practice. It is one of the most needed, comprehensive, illustrative, well-structured book, published with enormous information about advances in clinical approach, imaging including echocardiography, multimodality imaging, drug, mechanical and surgical interventions for better hypertension management with morbidity and mortality reduction in various clinical situations.

The book comprises of 19 sections including Clinical, Diagnostic Methodology, Echocardiography, Hypertension to Heart Failure, Hypertension to Stroke, Hypertension and Aorta, Hypertension and Renovascular Diseases, Hypertension and Intervention, Hypertension and Carotid Artery Disease, Hypertension and Peripheral Vascular Disease, Clinical Management Strategies, Pediatric Cardiology and Hypertension, Metabolic Syndrome and Hypertension, Nutrition and Hypertension, Cardio-oncology and Hypertension, Systematics Inflammatory Release Syndrome with Resistant Hypertension, ECMO and Hypertension, Rehabilitation, and Future Directions., 149 chapters and 1050 pages. The book will be widely circulated with very wide international connectivity electronically with medsave and medline all over the world.

The chapters are well outlined, organized, well written and referenced. The writing style of every chapter is vivid, concise and practical. There are excellent graphics, tables and figures that present the relevant information. The printing and binding is of excellent quality. The book will represent a milestone for hypertension management strategies in the world.

India is already the world capital of Hypertension, Diabetes, Heart Attack & Obesity. Hypertension awareness is therefore, an action plan of paradigm shift from Illness to Wellness. The prevalence of Hypertension in various Indian data is 30-35% in young adults in urb an population and 15-20% in rural population. It is 50% at the age of 50, 60% at the age of 60, 70% at the age of 70 and 80% at the age of 80. The diagnosis of Hypertension at time is challenging and underestimated, misdiagnosed and underdiagnosed. BP Awareness campaign is therefore need of the hour to reduce Hypertension inflicted morbidity and mortality. Swasth Dil Swasth Bharat (Healthy Heart, Healthy India) is only possible by Hypertension Awareness and its control because Uncontrolled Hypertension is the main culprit and hidden terrorist of premature Brain Attack, Heart Attack, Kidney Attack, Eye Attack, Vessel Attack etc in our country.

Grow Young and Live Longer with normal blood pressure. Shorter the waist line, normal the blood pressure numbers. What we eat, definitely matters, but what is eating us matters more to control the blood pressure. How long you live is alright, but how well you live definitely the matter with the normal blood pressure. Anybody getting heart attack or brain attack with uncontrolled hypertension below the age of 70, it is his/ her own fault after 70 it is God’s will.

What you should know to control your blood pressure

· Ideal blood pressure at any age upper (systolic)120-130 mmHg, lower (diastolic) 70– 80 mmHg.

· After the age of 20, have periodical checkup of your blood pressure.

· Reduce obesity (Pot Belly) and control hypertension.

· Control Diabetes and control hypertension.

· Reduce salt intake (less than 4.5-5 gm/day (avoid pickle, sauces, soya sauce, extra salt) and control hypertension.

· Consume more green leafy vegetables and fruits on daily basis.

· Don’t be in the state of anxiety due to COVID, it may enhance blood pressure. Control blood pressure meticulously. Take immunoboosters such as vitamin C, Zinc, Geloi and Tulsi to enhance immunity.

· Avoid frequent intake of fried food (Pakoras, samosas, halwa, puri) and control hypertension.

· Be disciplined – Eat at right time in right dose, at a right place, in a right manner, in a right environment and control blood pressure.

· Control Cholesterol and control hypertension.

· Increase good cholesterol (HDL) and reduce bad cholesterol (Total Cholesterol, Triglycerides, LDL) and control blood pressure.

· Stop smoking and control hypertension.

· Reduce alcohol and control blood pressure and its fluctuation

· Sleep well for 6-8 hours, avoid snoring and control blood pressure.

· Have a nap for 30 minutes after lunch to control the blood pressure.

· Exercise regularly for 30 minutes a day (avoid extremes of climate) and control hypertension.

· Manage stress well and control hypertension.

· Manage anger and control blood pressure.

· Don’t burnt both the ends of the candle at the same time to control Hypertension.

· Time management, stress management, self-management and business management is the need of the hour to control hypertension.

· Meditate 20 minutes, Morning and Evening and control blood pressure.

· Practice of Yoga (all the eight limbs) Daily control Hypertension.

· Take Omega 3 Fatty Acid 1-1.5 mg daily. The best source is flaxseed.

· Take nuts on daily basis such as American Pistachio, walnut, almond & US Cranberry etc.

· Avoid oral contracepting pills and control blood pressure.

· Avoid nasal drop, which contain sympathomimatic drugs such as ephedrine and cough syrup and control hypertension.

· Avoid HRT (Harmonal replacement therapy in women) and OCP in young and control hypertension.

· Home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) is the best and most practical method to control the blood pressure.

· Ambulatory BP Monitoring is the need of the hour once a year in resistant or uncontrolled hypertension to know the BP load for drug titration.

· Knowledge about morning surge and evening surge of blood pressure should be known to everyone.

· Have perfect knowledge about BP Medicines: High BP medicines have to be taken lifelong, Know the names of the medications and the dose, Medicine only works when you take it regularly, Do not ever stop taking or change medicine on your own, Have a routine for taking medications, Use a pillbox marked with the days of the week to make it easier to remember, Keep a medication calendar and note every time you take a dose, Take medicine at the same time each day, When traveling, carry the drugs and take them as scheduled, do not decrease medication dosage to save money, If cost is a problem, talk with the doctor who may prescribe cheaper generic medications, talk to doctor before adding herbal/ayurvedic/ homeopathic drugs to blood pressure treatment, these drugs may interact with each other causing undesirable effects, if a person forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember, however, if it is almost time for next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to regular dosing schedule, do not take two doses to make up for the dose missed.

· If your Blood Pressure is uncontrolled during winter season due to seasonal variation, please consult your hypertension expert well in time.