2. Original Scientific Paper
Abstract

Hypertension is a common ailment among the elderly people which causes health problems, such as heart and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Since decades, studies have reported that uncontrolled blood pressure increases the risk of serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke. Reports also suggested that knowledge of healthy lifestyle is one of the most imperative issues that reduces the risk of such life threatened diseases. The principal aim of the present study was to evaluate the awareness and behavioural pattern, in relation to hypertension and its related lifestyle issues, among the elderly people residing in a rural area of Paschim Medinipur District of West Bengal. A total of 200 Bengali speaking individuals of both sexes, aged 60 years and above were selected from rural areas of Midnapore Sadar Block. Data on socioeconomic aspects, dietary practices, physical activity and substance use in terms of tobacco and alcohol use were collected through pretested questionnaires, after taking verbal consent from each of them. Blood pressures were measured following standard techniques. The results depicted a poor awareness about the bad effect of consumption of oily and spicy food among the female study participants (p<0.05). Very few study participants have the awareness that hypertension affects daily lifestyle. Visiting to doctors was found to be very less frequent among them. In conclusion, the present small scale cross-sectional study suggests that rural people still are unaware about the healthy lifestyle required to control over hypertension. Further, to unearth the exact scenario pertaining to hypertension and its lifestyle related correlates and to implement appropriate intervention research, rural-urban comparative study will be of utmost importance.

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