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**Karnataka Faces Hypertension Crisis: Health Minister Calls for Urgent Action**

**Bengaluru, September 3, 2025** – A concerning rise in hypertension cases in Karnataka has prompted Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao to declare the issue a “silent epidemic” requiring urgent and collective action. Citing the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5) data, the Minister revealed that approximately 25% of women and 26.9% of men over the age of 15 in the state suffer from high blood pressure – figures exceeding the national average.

Speaking at a sensitisation workshop on hypertension and other non-communicable diseases, Minister Rao emphasized the serious consequences of unchecked hypertension, including strokes, heart attacks, kidney failure, and premature death. He also highlighted the significant economic burden caused by rising hospitalizations, loss of productivity, and financial strain on families.

“Every fourth adult in Karnataka is hypertensive,” the Minister stated. “This means lakhs of people in our State are living at high risk of chronic illness and sudden medical emergencies, often without being aware of it.”

In response to the growing crisis, the Karnataka government is committing to expanded screening programs, ensuring the availability of essential medicines at all Health and Wellness Centres, and launching community awareness campaigns. The existing community-level screening under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) will be expanded. Lifestyle interventions promoting healthy diets, exercise, and reduced salt intake will also be prioritized.

Adding to the concern, Oncologist U.S. Vishal Rao raised the alarm about rising rates of hypertension in children. He noted that no State government is currently screening children for hypertension in schools, despite studies showing an increasing prevalence linked to obesity, unhealthy diets, sedentary lifestyles, and a lack of awareness. He urges state governments to start screening for hypertension in schools.

The Health Minister’s call to action underscores the urgency of addressing hypertension in Karnataka, with the government outlining concrete steps to tackle this pressing public health issue.

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