Thrissur: Study results show that one among 3 young men in Kerala above the age of 18 has high blood pressure. One among 5 are diabetic. The new figures are based on a study carried out by Achutha Menon Centre for Health Science Studies, Thiruvananthapuram among 12,000 young men.
Results also say that Keralites are lazy in doing exercise, observing diet and following a proper consumption of medicine. Kerala is behind the national statistics in controlling diseases even after getting diagnosed of any disease. Only 13% Keralites put an effort to bring the high blood pressure under control.
Only 19% of people bring diabetics under control in Kerala. In other states, the estimate is nearly 50%. The nature of Keralites is to seek treatment only after the disease worsens.
Kerala is leading in the case of consumption of salt. 69% per cent of people in Kerala consume more than 5 grams, the normal quantity of salt consumption in a day. Besides adding salt in foods, people in Kerala add salt directly in rice before consumption. Doctors warn this practice as dangerous.
77.8% people who took part in the survey don’t eat sufficient vegetables and 86% don’t consume sufficient fruits. The only positive finding in the result was the use of tobacco has declined 8%.
Dr V Ramankutty, Senior Grade Professor and director of Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Technology said that this was the first study in Kerala in this regard.
