Doctors warn of hidden salt fuelling, lifestyle-driven hypertension crisis in Jammu

Jammu, Sep 27: As World Heart Day approaches, health experts are sounding the alarm over a rising hypertension crisis in Jammu, driven by high hidden salt intake, heavy red meat diets, and tobacco use, with nearly one in five adults now living with high blood pressure.

As per a statement issued on Saturday, the causes are rooted in daily habits. Average salt intake in Jammu is more than twice the World Health Organisation’s recommended safe limit of 5 grams per day, much of it hidden in packaged foods, restaurant meals, and preserved items. Combined with diets rich in red meat, widespread tobacco use, and delays in seeking treatment, this silent overload is placing enormous strain on hearts across the region.

The impact is visible in hospitals where more patients are arriving with uncontrolled hypertension and its complications, including strokes, heart attacks, and kidney disease. In rural areas, where screening and awareness remain limited, the problem is often detected late, when controlling blood pressure is far more difficult.

Dr Najmus Saqib, Senior Consultant, Interventional Cardiologist, JK Medicity Hospital, Jammu, said, “World Heart Day is a reminder that prevention starts at home. In Jammu, the real danger lies in hidden salt and lifestyle habits that people overlook every day. Families may think they are using only a pinch of salt while cooking, but packaged snacks, preserved foods, and restaurant curries quietly add much more. Alongside heavy red meat consumption and tobacco use, this is creating an environment where hypertension is spreading rapidly.

What worries us most is that many people only come for treatment after complications such as stroke or kidney damage have already set in. These are conditions that could have been prevented with early detection and simple lifestyle changes. By reducing salt in daily diets, moderating red meat intake, quitting tobacco, and coming for regular blood pressure checks, families in Jammu can protect themselves. Prevention is far easier than treatment, and this World Heart Day, that is the message we must take seriously.”