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Shopping in ‘unhealthy’ locales ups BP risk says study

Published

6 years ago

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People who frequently indulge in shopping in “unhealthy” areas as compared to those who visiting “healthy” retail stores, were more likely to be at risk of high blood pressure, say researchers.

The study using Pop-up health check stations in England found a possible link between “unhealthy’ shopping centres and the number of cases of suspected or diagnosed high blood pressure.

The research team classified retail outlets as “unhealthy” if they either had a fast-food takeaway, a bookmaker, a tanning salon or a payday loan business.

The health check stations found 72 per cent of those frequenting “unhealthy” shopping centres with high BP.

“The least healthy shopping centres are all within some of the most socially-deprived areas of the country, so the results of this study exemplify the stark health inequalities that are entrenched across the UK,” said Shirley Cramer CBE, Chief Executive of the Royal Society for Public Health.

To reach this conclusion, the team from City, University of London set up the one day Pop-Up health check stations in seven shopping centres across England.

Blood pressure readings were offered 50 per cent of the time to attract potential volunteers with a more comprehensive and familiar health screening.

The difference in the proportion of readings of high blood pressure was also a statistically significant result, translating into a 72 per cent increased likelihood of suspected or diagnosed high blood pressure being reported in an ‘unhealthy’ shopping centre relative to a ‘healthy’ shopping centre.

“The British Heart Foundation also recently called for NHS health staff to take blood pressure checks at gyms, barbershops and football stadiums and offer blood pressure checks in the workplace,” said David Crabb, Professor of Statistics and Vision Research who led the research team.

“In our study, over half those recorded as having high blood pressure were aware of having the condition or reported a history of high blood pressure,” said the team in a paper published in the journal BMC Public Health.

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Corona

Covid toll in Karnataka is a worrying sign for state government

Published

3 years ago

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May 4, 2022

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Even though Karnataka recorded the lowest number of Covid deaths in April since the virus struck first in 2020, the state is recording a rise in the positivity rate (1.50 per cent). Five people died from the Covid infections in April as per the statistics released by the state health department. In March, the positivity rate stood around 0.53 per cent. In the first week of April it came down to 0.38 per cent, second week registered 0.56 per cent, third week it rose to 0.79 per cent and by end of April the Covid positivity rate touched 1.19 per cent.

on an average 500 persons used to succumb everyday in the peak of Covid infection, as per the data. Health experts said that the mutated Coronavirus is losing its fierce characteristics as vaccination, better treatment facilities and awareness among the people have contributed to the lesser number of Covid deaths.

During the 4th and 6th of April two deaths were reported in Bengaluru, one in Gadag district on April 8, two deaths were reported from Belagavi and Vijayapura on April 30. The first Covid case was reported in the state in March 2020 and three Covid deaths were recorded in the month. In the following month 21 people became victims to the deadly virus, and May 2020 recorded 22 deaths. The death toll recorded everyday after May crossed three digits. However, the third wave, which started in January 2

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