Dr Najmus Saqib
A growing number of people in Jammu are living with undiagnosed or uncontrolled high blood pressure, making hypertension one of the region’s most urgent but under-recognised public-health threats. Recent hospital data and clinical estimates suggest that nearly one in five adults now has elevated blood pressure – many without knowing it – and the trend is rising steadily. The silent nature of this condition means that individuals continue their daily routines unaware that their cardiovascular systems are under tremendous strain, accumulating damage that could have devastating consequences years later.
Hidden Salt, Everyday Risk
At the heart of the problem lies excessive salt consumption, which has become so normalised in daily life that few people realise its impact. The World Health Organization recommends a daily limit of 5 grams, yet the average intake in Jammu is estimated to be more than double that amount. The excess rarely comes from table salt alone. Instead, it is hidden in packaged snacks, restaurant food, pickles, sauces, and processed meats – everyday items consumed without a second thought.
Local diets high in red meat and fried foods add to the burden, while tobacco use remains widespread among both urban and rural men. Doctors say this combination quietly damages blood vessels and increases the risk of heart attack and stroke long before any symptoms appear.
“People think salt only means what they add while cooking,” explains a nutrition expert from Government Medical College, Jammu. “But in reality, more than half of daily salt intake comes from processed and restaurant foods. Cutting back is not about taste – it’s about survival.”
Cultural food preferences also compound the problem. Many beloved local dishes are high in salt and spices that can elevate blood pressure. The prevalence of preserved meats and pickled vegetables – staples of Kashmiri and Dogri cuisine – means even traditional meals contribute significantly to excess sodium intake. What was once necessary for preservation has now become habit, even as modern refrigeration has made such methods less essential.
Hospitals See a Sharp Rise in Cases
Hospitals such as JK Medicity, GMC Jammu, and ASCOMS are recording a steady increase in patients with uncontrolled hypertension and related complications. Many arrive late, when damage to the heart, kidneys, or brain has already occurred. Emergency wards are increasingly crowded with hypertension-related cases, and doctors report a 30 percent rise in such admissions over the past five years.
Younger patients in their 30s and 40s are also being diagnosed more frequently, a trend once confined to older adults. This shift indicates that lifestyle factors are influencing the condition much earlier than expected. In rural belts of Jammu, limited access to regular health check-ups and lack of awareness make detection even harder. People often attribute symptoms like headache, dizziness, or fatigue to stress or weather, losing precious time for intervention. Without basic screening, many remain unaware until a major health crisis forces emergency care.
Lifestyle Patterns Intensifying the Crisis
Urbanisation and changing food habits have accelerated the problem. As more people work in offices and spend long hours sitting, physical activity has declined sharply. Combined with high-calorie meals and frequent eating out, the risk factors multiply. The convenience culture in urban Jammu has fundamentally altered how people eat and live, prioritising speed and ease over health.
In Jammu’s hot summers, many residents rely heavily on preserved and pickled foods, which are loaded with salt. The convenience of fast food during long commutes has made matters worse. Doctors point out that even a seemingly healthy restaurant meal – such as tandoori chicken or curry – can exceed a full day’s sodium allowance.
Tobacco use worsens the impact beyond measure. Nicotine temporarily raises blood pressure and damages the lining of arteries. When paired with high salt and fat intake, it accelerates cardiovascular risk, creating a toxic combination that steadily erodes heart health.
Prevention Begins at Home
Prevention starts at home. The real danger lies in hidden salt and lifestyle habits that people overlook every day. Families may think they are using only a pinch of salt while cooking, but packaged snacks, preserved foods, and restaurant curries quietly add much more. Alongside heavy red meat consumption and tobacco use, this is creating an environment where hypertension is spreading rapidly.
“What worries us most is that many people come for treatment only after complications such as stroke or kidney damage have already set in. These are conditions that could have been prevented with early detection and simple lifestyle changes. By reducing salt in daily diets, moderating red meat intake, quitting tobacco, and coming for regular blood pressure checks, families in Jammu can protect themselves. Prevention is far easier than treatment.
Medical professionals stress the need to shift from treatment to prevention. Healthcare systems remain reactive rather than proactive – responding to crises instead of preventing them. By the time patients reach hospitals, the cost and severity of treatment have multiplied.
The Cost of Delay
Uncontrolled hypertension is known as a “silent killer” because it often shows no warning signs until severe complications arise. Doctors increasingly encounter patients with advanced heart disease or kidney failure that began with years of neglected blood pressure. The financial cost of delayed care is extraordinarily high – devastating for families and burdensome for hospitals.
A patient with stroke or heart failure may require months of intensive care, followed by years of treatment and medication. These expenses can bankrupt middle-class families and push low-income households into poverty. Health economists warn that if current trends continue, hypertension-related treatment could become one of the top healthcare expenses for middle-income families. Preventive measures such as routine screening and dietary awareness remain the most cost-effective solutions, costing a fraction of later treatment.
Rural Challenges and Awareness Gap
In Rural Jammu, awareness about blood pressure and diet remains limited. Many villages lack regular screening camps, and health-seeking behaviour is low. Doctors emphasise that primary health centres should incorporate blood pressure checks into every routine visit. Without this, early detection remains difficult.
Educational outreach through local health workers and self-help groups can play a major role. Simple demonstrations showing hidden salt in everyday foods can change understanding faster than formal lectures. When trusted community members lead these efforts, people are more likely to listen and change their behaviours.
Restoring Balance Through Small Changes
Experts recommend practical measures families can adopt immediately – reducing visible and hidden salt by cooking at home more often and avoiding processed foods. Replacing preserved pickles with fresh vegetables, limiting red meat, quitting tobacco, and engaging in at least 30 minutes of physical activity daily can significantly lower risk. Getting blood pressure checked at least twice a year after age 30 ensures early detection.
The Role of Climate and Season
Jammu’s hot climate adds another layer of complexity. People tend to drink less water during long hours and compensate with salty snacks, causing dangerous blood pressure fluctuations. Doctors suggest maintaining proper hydration, avoiding excessive caffeine, and limiting added salt during summer months.
The region stands at a crossroads – with modern convenience on one side and preventable heart disease on the other. Awareness, regular screening, and responsible food choices can reverse this trend if implemented now. Hospitals are stepping up preventive outreach through free blood pressure camps and nutrition counselling. But experts say the real transformation must occur in kitchens and daily habits.
The hidden salt, the missed walk, the delayed check-up – each adds up silently until the heart pays the price. Protecting the heart begins with small, daily decisions that build lifelong health. Reducing salt, moving more, and checking blood pressure regularly are not options – they are necessities for a healthy future.
(The author is Senior Consultant Interventional Cardiologist at JK Medicity Hospital Jammu)
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