Are the tribal highlanders protected from hypertension? A meta-analysis on prevalence of hypertension among high altitude tribal population of India.

Background: The so-called protected tribal population are also facing burden of noncommunicable diseases. The high altitude tribes are thought to be genetically and environmentally protected from hypertension (HTN) like diseases.

Objective: The objective is to estimate the prevalence of HTN among tribes residing at high altitudes (>6000 feet above sea level) of India.

Geophagy in India: a qualitative exploratory study on motivation and perception of female consumers.

Background: Geophagy, the consumption of soil, is well documented in Africa and other continents, but is rarely investigated in Asia and even less so in India. The main aim of this exploratory qualitative study was therefore to understand the motivation for clay consumption, the social perception of the habit, the mode and quantity of consumption, as well as subjectively perceived effects of clay consumption in Himachal Pradesh, North India.

Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 27 female geophagists aged 18-80 years.

Leisure Time Physical Activity and Risk of Developing Depression among the Youth of Kangra District, Himachal Pradesh, India.

Background: Physical inactivity during adolescence and youth has been considered as potential risk factor for future mental health problems. The present study was conducted with the aim to examine whether an association exists between leisure-time physical activity (PA) and depression among the youth of Kangra district, studying in professional or degree colleges.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the students of Medical College (MC), Central University (CU) and Industrial Training Institute (ITI) of Kangra district.

Using Multistate Observational Studies to Determine Role of Hypertension and Diabetes as Risk Factors for Dementia.

Background: Evidence suggests that modifiable risk factors which can be targeted by prevention are vascular diseases, such as diabetes, midlife hypertension (HTN), midlife obesity, midlife cholesterol, mid- and late-life depression as well as lifestyle factors such as smoking, physical inactivity, and poor diet.

Methods: A comprehensive search of the National Library of Medicine's PubMed database and Google Scholar was conducted. A combinations of medical subject headings and free text words that included search terms related to the exposure (e.