Just a tip of the iceberg

“It is only the tip of the ice-berg,” said Dr. C. Venkata S. Ram, renowned expert on hypertension and a recent recipient of the Padmashri.

Asked for his reaction on the results of the screening, he said although it was less than the findings of another study done last year in the State’s rural areas ( 13-15 per cent for diabetes and 18-20 per cent for BP), it was still alarming and did not mean things were getting better.

It was like a snapshot and the implications were that both diabetes and BP would progress with advancing age.

Dr. Ram called for making mass screening mandatory for diabetes and hypertension right from high school and junior college. “Then only we can prevent these diseases,” he added.