Unveiling the Social Roots of Undiagnosed Hypertension: A Case Study of a 70-Year-Old Patient
Jitendrakumar Pandya Dhruvkumar, Ankita S. Parmar, Abhishek Malu, Niraj B Pandit
A
BSTRACT
Hypertension is a worldwide health issue across the globe and a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease, systematics, and chronic kidney disease. Among rural population groups, undiagnosed hypertension is prevalent owing to poor access to healthcare, socioeconomic disparities, and cultural misunderstandings regarding health care. A 70-year-old rural Gujarati male farmer was accidentally detected with Stage 2 hypertension (BP: 176/102 mmHg) while undergoing routine field screening. Although he had been having symptoms, he never came to the hospital because of family misconceptions. After counselling, he was advised lifestyle changes, regular monitoring of BP, and follow-up for further management. This case brings out the burden of nondiagnostic hypertension in an elderly rural population and raises concern regarding the prevalence in wider communities. The significance of reinforcing rural health services and further investigating diagnostic and treatment disorders is crucial to enhance early detection and management.