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PESHAWAR, Jul 09 (APP):For Fazal e Subhan, a retired government employee, the loss of his wife was not only devastating but also a harsh awakening to the dangers of a silent killer that often goes unnoticed until it strikes fatally.
“My wife had been suffering from hypertension, depression, and anxiety for years,” he shared tearfully at a local hospital.
“But the brain hemorrhage that took her life came without warning. One moment she was with us, the next she slipped into a coma and never came back.”
Fazal’s tragic story is not uncommon in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), where hypertension commonly known as high blood pressure has emerged as the most widespread non-communicable disease (NCD), silently claiming lives and burdening an already stretched healthcare system in KP.
A landmark study conducted by researchers from Khyber Medical University (KMU), has raised alarms about the escalating prevalence of hypertension in KP.
The study, titled “prevalence of communicable, non-communicable diseases, disabilities, and related risk factors in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa”, found that nearly 29.2% of KP’s population suffers from hypertension, with a noticeable gender disparity of 32.7% in females and 25.0% in males.
“This is not just a statistic but it reflects real people, real families, and real suffering,” said Dr. Ziaul Haq, Vice Chancellor of KMU and one of the lead researchers.
The findings underscore an urgent need for public health interventions and a robust healthcare infrastructure that can handle both prevention and treatment.
The study highlighted that women in KP bear a disproportionate burden of hypertension and other related diseases.
More than half of the female population in the province is classified as pre-obese or obese which is a known precursor to hypertension and type 2 diabetes.
The link between excess weight and chronic diseases is well documented, with 90% of type 2 diabetes and 75% of hypertension cases being associated with obesity.
“Women in KP often have limited access to health education, physical activity, and nutritious diets,” said Dr. Riaz Khan, a senior medical specialist at Pabbi Hospital in Nowshera. “Cultural constraints and lack of awareness make it even harder for them to take preventive steps.”
The study also revealed that urban areas in KP have a higher prevalence of hypertension, likely due to sedentary lifestyles, high salt intake, and increased consumption of processed foods. Other contributing factors include stress, tobacco use, and insufficient physical activity.
“People living in cities are unknowingly walking towards a critical health issue ,” Dr. Malik Riaz added. “With little to no symptoms in the early stages, hypertension is often left undiagnosed until it leads to severe outcomes like strokes, kidney failure, or heart attacks.”
What makes hypertension particularly dangerous is its silent nature. According to the report, a significant portion of adults in KP estimated at 18% are hypertensive, with many completely unaware of their condition. The lack of routine health screenings and public awareness means that diagnoses often come too late.
“This is a disease that creeps in silently, and by the time symptoms manifest, it has often done irreversible damage,” warned Dr. Malik.
The researchers behind the KP study have issued a clarion call for health policy reforms, including the urgent implementation of the National Health Vision 2016–2025.
The plan outlines improved primary healthcare access, enhanced disease surveillance, and a stronger legislative framework for combating NCDs.
Regular blood pressure screening at community and healthcare levels, Integrated primary healthcare services focused on NCDs, health education campaigns targeting lifestyle changes besides training of healthcare workers and better diagnostic tools and promotion of healthy diets and physical activity, especially for women were recommended to eradicate it.
Dr. Riaz emphasized the importance of preventive care. “Lifestyle modifications such as eating less salt, increasing fruits and vegetables, exercising regularly, and managing stress can significantly reduce the risk of hypertension. But people need to be aware and empowered to make these changes.”
As Fazal e Subhan mourns the loss of his wife, his story serves as a solemn reminder that behind the numbers are families left grieving and lives forever altered. Hypertension may be silent, but its impact is deafening.
If KP Govt and the broader healthcare community fail to act now, the burden of non-communicable diseases like hypertension will only grow heavier both in human lives and economic cost.
“We need to treat this not just as a health issue, but as a social crisis,” Dr. Ziaul Haq concluded. “Because every life lost to something preventable is one too many.”