WORK PRESSURE RAISES INDIANS` BLOOD PRESSURE

NEW DELHI, May 13 (Bernama) -- India, one of the fastest growing economies
in the developing world, is facing a disturbing malady -- an increasing number
of Indian workers are suffering from hypertension, triggered by a strenuous work
environment.

A joint study by the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India
(Assocham) and PricewaterhouseCoopers warned that at least 135 million Indians
would suffer from life-style diseases, such as hypertension, heart diseases and
stroke, by 2015 and inflict an economic loss of US$160 billion during the
period.

"Due to tensions arising out of transitional liberalisation and current
stressed working environment in the private, joint and government sectors, the
number of people with hypertension in India is expected to see a quantum leap of
over 135 million for a projected period (2015)," said Assocham president Sajjan
Jindal.

According to the report, last year alone, over 65 million people were
estimated to suffer from the disease, largely affecting the productive Indian
workforce.

"India's loss in terms of losing potentially productive years due to deaths
from cardiovascular diseases in people aged between 35-60 years is one of the
highest in the world, which is most unfortunate," Jindal said.

Lack of facilities to mitigate tensions and tendencies for high blood
pressure, which often led to cardiovascular diseases, was one of the reasons
cited for the rising health woes in the country of over one billion people.

It was estimated that chronic diseases in India accounted for 53 per cent of
all deaths and deaths from chronic diseases would register a sharp increase from
over four million in late 1990's to exceed seven million by 2015, the report
said.
-- BERNAMA