With incidence of hypertension growing, Apollo group of hospitals has started a dedicated facility to address the problem.

The group is going to have a chain of BP hospitals to offer focussed services.

About 25 per cent of adults in urban areas and 15 per cent adults in rural areas suffer from hypertension, Sangita Reddy, Executive Director of the group, said.

Quoting government studies, she said about nine crore people in the country were suffering from this health condition, she said.

Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, she said the group would set up 10 clinics, all in Andhra Pradesh, this financial year.

First of the three would come up at Apollo’s existing facilities, including at the Health City at Jubilee Hills.

“We will review the results before expanding the reach to other top cities in the country,” she said.

C. Venkata S. Ram, a BP specialist, said the hyper tension problem, left untreated, could result in serious cardio-vascular and kidney problems.

He said the prevalence was so high in the country that there were no urban-rural divide.

“The people in rural areas too have adopted modern lifestyle. So, incidence is high there,” he said. He said hyper tension was a silent killer as people saw no specific symptoms. People above the age of 18 should have their BP levels checked at least once a year. Even small children were being impacted by this health condition, he said.

> kurmanath.kanchi@thehindu.co.in

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