AN INCIDENCE OF HYPERTENSION AMONG PEOPLE AND ITS ASSOCIATION TO CONSUMPTION OF HARD WATER: A CROSS-SECTIONAL RESEARCH

Objective: Research was aimed to compare hypertension incidence in the communities consuming hard water in terms of its hardness at Hingorno, Sindh, Pakistan. Methods: A cross-sectional research study was held in June, 2016. Area had two sources of water including water supply and rain which included fresh and hard water. Our research sample was 340 and comprised of above eighteen years age group with more than five years stay in the area. All the participants with diabetes, kidney disease, taking oral supplements and anti-hypertensive drugs were not included in the research. BMI, demographic features and BP (blood pressure) were also documented. Hardness in the sample of water was measured and above 180 ppm was considered as very hard water. Comparison of hypertension was made in the people using fresh or hard water with a significant p-value (< 0.05). Result: In the total research population 80 participants were found (23.5%) hypertensive; 38 hard water consumers (20%) and 42 fresh water consumers (28%). This variation was significant statistically, very high hardness was observed in the water sample testing and it was suggested that this water is not suitable for human health. Conclusion: It is concluded that people are commonly observed hypertension which is not present in the fresh water cases and higher incidence of hardness was observed in the underground water resources of Hingorno. Keywords: Fresh Water, Pre-hypertension, Hypertension and Underground Water.