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ISSN-0303-5212 |
| The
Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association Rawalpindi - Islamabad |
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Volume 34, Number 2, July - Dec. 2009 |  |
| Original article |
| Impact of education and physical activity on awareness and control of hypertension |
| Farwa Rizvi, Muhammad Afzal, M. Ashraf Chaudhry, Atif Baig |
| Objective To determine the impact of education and physical activity on the awareness and control of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) in hypertensive patients of Islamabad. Method A total of 240 patients were selected consecutively from Cardiology OPD of PIMS, Polyclinic and Medical OPD of PAEC Hospital Islamabad, from April 2006 to September 2006 for this multi-center cross-sectional survey. Information regarding the socio-demographic profile as well as their level of physical activity (30 minutes brisk walk five times /week) was gathered through a structured questionnaire. Results Out of 240 patients, 123 (51.25%) were males and 117 (48.75%) were females. 80/123 (65%) males and 63/117 (54%) females replied that they did physical activity regularly. 99% of who did physical activity had normal B.P values and 64% of who did no physical activity (97/240 patients) were in pre-hypertension stage (P=0.000). As the education level increased, the proportion of physical activity also increased significantly (P= 0.000). Conclusions Level of education and physical activity especially walking for 30 minutes at least five days per week has a significant role in reducing and controlling blood pressure in patients with and without medication. (Rawal Med J 2009;34:160-163). |
| Key Words: Hypertension, diastolic blood pressure, systolic blood pressure, physical activity. |
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