One in every three Sri Lankans is living with high blood pressure, the Ministry of Health has said, warning that hypertension-related illnesses now account for nearly 34 percent of deaths reported in the country.
Director of the Health Ministry’s Non-Communicable Diseases Unit Dr. Shreeni Alahapperuma, addressing a media briefing in Colombo, said hypertension typically develops without noticeable symptoms, making regular medical checks essential for adults above the age of 35.
She urged the public to have their blood pressure measured at least once every six months, or annually at a minimum, to detect risks early.
Dr. Alahapperuma disclosed that 63.9 percent of Sri Lankans suffering from hypertension are not receiving any treatment. Among those who are on treatment, 39.1 percent fail to keep their blood pressure under control — meaning roughly three in four patients overall are either undiagnosed or inadequately managed.
The Ministry identified excessive salt consumption as a major driver of high blood pressure in Sri Lanka, alongside obesity, physical inactivity and tobacco and alcohol use.
The figures align with the Ministry’s earlier disclosure that non-communicable diseases account for 83 percent of all deaths in Sri Lanka. Cabinet Spokesperson and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa told a recent forum in Kalutara that one in five Sri Lankan adults already lives with a chronic NCD, with hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular disease driving the burden.
The Ministry has previously expanded primary-care infrastructure to address the load, including Rs. 3.6 billion in upgrades to primary healthcare and the rollout of 16 new cath labs at major hospitals.
Source: The Island.
