Men in Hyderabad have a problem other than not liking the biopic of their favourite cricketer - Mohd Azharuddin. If a study by the Union Health Ministry is to be believed, Hyderabad men have the highest levels of hypertension in India. The data, collated from the ministry's recently released National Family Health Survey-4 (2015-16), shows that 4.5% Hyderabad men suffer from what is known as `very high hypertension (VHH). In contrast, only 3% men in Chennai, 0.5% men in KolkataPatna, 0.1% men in Goa, 0.7% men in Bengaluru and 1.1% men in Dehradun are found afflicted by VHH.

The survey was conducted in 17 states covering 20,000 individuals. This category of hypertension comprises those who record a blood pressure level of more than 180110. For the record, experts say healthy adults should strive to have a BP less than 14090. It should be less than 13585 for those battling from diabetes, heart and kidney diseases. The findings, incidentally, have left medical experts stunned who aren't sure of causes that catapulted Hyderabad men into the top slot.

But, no one is sure why the Hyderabad men have such high levels of Very High Hypertension

"It is very difficult to decipher why men here has VHH. One needs to study the risk factors involved to figure out the exact cause. The causes need to be studied further," said Dr. C Venkata S Ram, director, Apollo Institute for Blood Pressure Management. Though not entirely certain, Dr. L Sudarshan Reddy, consultant, general physician, Continental Hospital, listed out some possible reasons. "The risk factors could be anything and it may differ from person to person. Genetic and environmental factors, high salt intake, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, family history of hypertension and excess alcohol intake are possible culprits," he explained.

While quoting from the medical records of Continental Hospital, Reddy added that in 2015 they treated a whopping 2,545 hypertensive cases either as out-patients or in-patients. In the other two forms of hypertension, categorised as "slightly above normal" (BP between 140-159 90-99) and "moderately high hypertension" (BP between 160-179 100-109) too, Hyderabad men recorded a high figure of 16.1% and 3.4% respectively.