World Hypertension Day is being observed throughout the world on Wednesday (today) to create awareness among people and lay stress on prevention methods to avoid its harmful effects. Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA) has also decided to organise a campaign on this occasion to combat the ever increasing deleterious effects of this deadly disease. PIMA will hold free clinics all over the country on the occasion and also hold sessions for public awareness about hypertension.

PIMA President Dr Abdul Malik said in a message on Tuesday that a certain level of blood pressure is essential for life that was about 140/90, however, if readings consistently exceed this then treatment becomes necessary. He said there are no symptoms of blood pressure exceeding 140/90 continuously and this is the level at which it is called hypertension.

"This is why it is called the silent killer. It is only discovered when checked," he said, adding that if not treated, it causes narrowing of arteries, heart disease, kidney disease, stroke and loss of vision: very serious effects which can compromise the quality of life. Meanwhile, an awareness session was held on Tuesday in connection with the International Hypertension Day. Free screening was also arranged through blood pressure monitoring, sugar test and BMI calculation. The session was addressed by Professor Dr Muhammad Tahir Chaudhry, Dr Saeedullah Shah, Dr Muhammad Iftikhar Burni, Dr Muhammad Hasaan Zia and Dr Shabbir Ahmad Kallu.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2017