The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated April 7 of every year as the World Health Day. To commemorate this year’s World Health Day, the Student Nurses’ Association of the Amrita College of Nursing organized a series of panel discussions at the Health Sciences Campus.

The discussions were based on 2013 World Health Day theme of High Blood Pressure. Eminent doctors from various clinical specialties from the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences participated.

The first session was organized on April 6, 2013. Dr. Anand Kumar, Professor and Head, Department of Neurology; Dr. M. Gopalakrishna Pillai, Professor, Department of Internal Medicine; Dr. Alexander John, Professor, Department of Community Medicine and Dr. Ravidranath Kammath, Head, Department of Holistic Medicine spoke. Panel discussions were moderated by Prof. K. T. Moly, Principal, Amrita College of Nursing.

Outlining the basic facts of high blood pressure, Dr. M. Gopalakrishna Pillai discussed the techniques that were used to measure blood pressure accurately, the investigations to be carried out and benefits of anti-hypertensive therapy.

Dr. Alexander John elaborated on the reasons for considering hypertension as a major public health issue and the preventive measures to be taken. Shedding light on the role of the brain in helping maintain normal blood pressure, Dr. Anand Kumar discussed management measures to be adopted for a hypertensive patient having suffered a cerebrovascular accident.

“Ayurveda mostly concentrates on educating patients on the risk factors of hypertension to help overcome them,” observed Dr. Ravindranath Kammath.

“According to the World Health Statistics 2012, 1 in every 3 adults worldwide has raised blood pressure. The proportion increases from 10% in age range 20 – 40 years to 50% in the 50s,” noted Prof. K. T. Moly. She also highlighted the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) eating plan and National High Blood Pressure Education Program.

A second session followed on April 10, 2013. This time the panelists included Dr. Gopal. S. Pillai, Professor and Head, Department of Ophthalmology; Dr. Arun Menon, Professor, Department of Endocrinology; Dr. Hisham Ahamed, Department of Cardiology and Ms. Dhanya R. Dharan, second-year student of M.Sc. (Nursing). The session was moderated by Dr. V. N. Unni, Professor and Head, Department of Nephrology.

Dr. Gopal S. Pillai stated that eye is the only organ where one can directly observe the early changes due to hypertension. Dr. Hisham Ahamed explained the various types of hypertension and its effects on heart while Dr. Arun Menon explained secondary hypertension in detail.

“The panel discussion raised our awareness of the causes and consequences of high blood pressure. We could also understand that for many people, lifestyle changes are sufficient to control blood pressure,” noted the student participant.

April 18, 2013
Health Sciences Campus, Kochi