Current Issues

Hypertension is a significant not only political but also a significant risk factor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, especially in the rural population where there is still an insufficient awareness concerning lifestyle change. The aim of the current research was to determine the level of awareness of the significance of lifestyle change in the prevention and treatment of hypertension in adults living in Orathur. The research design chosen was a quantitative descriptive research design and a non-probability sampling method was used where data was collected using a structured knowledge questionnaire on adult population. The results showed that a significant percentage of the participants possessed moderate knowledge, and those who possessed sufficient knowledge were less in terms of dietary control, physical exercise, weight management, salt intake, and the avoidance of complications. There was a strong correlation between the score of knowledge and the chosen socio-demographic factors, including educational level and previous exposure to health information. The analysis indicates that community-based programs on health education should be well organized to create awareness and support healthy lifestyle habits in prevention and treatment of high blood pressure. Increased effectiveness of knowledge and burden of hypertension among rural populations can be achieved by strengthening primary health care initiatives and nurse-led interventions.