'Covid-19 can be disastrous for people with uncontrolled blood pressure'

KARACHI: People with uncontrolled and unmanaged blood pressure can develop serious complications including multi-organ failure, heart failure or heart attack and large strokes if they contract Covid-19, experts warned on Sunday, and advised people with hypertension to regularly monitor their blood pressure at home in addition to controlling that with regular physical activities, diet control and medicines.

In Pakistan, around 40 to 50 percent people above the age of 40 are hypertensive or they have high blood pressure, experts said and warned that Covid-19 can prove disastrous for those who have uncontrolled blood pressure as well as diabetes as these diseases severely damage vital organs including heart, kidneys and lungs. Latest scientific studies have revealed that hypertension is the most prevalent comorbidity among patients infected with coronavirus in the world, experts said adding that meta-analysis of seven studies with 1,576 Covid-19 patients around the globe has showed that 21.1 percent of the Covid-19 patients were hypertensive.

"People with hypertension or high blood pressure are not at a higher risk of contracting Covid-19 as compared to healthy people but they can develop serious complications after getting infected with Coronavirus if their blood pressure is uncontrolled or unmanaged. Hypertensive people need to regularly monitor their blood pressure at home and take measures to control it to avoid serious complications," said Prof Khawar Kazmi, an eminent cardiologist associated with National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD).

Prof Kazmi who is the head of preventive cardiology at NICVD, said Covid-19 causes inflammation of blood vessels among other organs of the body so the people with hypertension have a higher risk of developing serious complications due to infectious disease. "We don't have a definite data but generally people with uncontrolled blood pressure and even unmanaged diabetes are at a higher risk of developing complications. These patients already have issues with their heart, lungs and kidneys and if hey contract Covid-19, they can develop serious complications," he said.

"First thing is to monitor your blood pressure at home in a state of calmness. Measuring blood pressure in an emotional state, physical activity or during headache is not advisable. Blood pressure should be monitored when a person is at ease," he said and advised people to consult consultant cardiologist for management of blood pressure.

"There is no need to take any extra supplement or medicines to boost your immunity. All you have to do is to eat healthy and balanced diet, exercise regularly at least for 45 minutes, take prescribed medicines regularly and reduce your salt intake," he added.