Hypertension is a chronic disease quite common in the day to day scenario and is ranked as the rst most important risk factor driving the most death and disability combined in Kerala (2016) (3). Hypertension and insomnia are found to coexist (1) (2). The prevalence of insomnia among hypertensive patients of South Kerala has not been properly studied, this study aims to investigate the same. This study in addition to this tries to nd out the association between insomnia and antihypertensive drugs, as previous researches have suggested insomnia as a possible side effect of antihypertensive medication (5). So proper diagnostic measures should be adapted, with special surveillance of insomnia prone members of society (based on epidemiological evidences) so as to prevent and treat insomnia at early stage itself and also prevent its progression to hypertension.

BACKGROUND The most important medical and public health issue and the single cause of death worldwide is high blood pressure. Hypertension prevalence is on a rapid increase. Nerve conduction velocity test is an essential reliable clinical test for the diagnosis of the diseases of peripheral nerves that includes peripheral neuropathies. Nerve conduction study measures duration, latency, amplitude and conduction velocity. Conduction velocity and latency denote the speed of nerve impulse propagation. They are altered in disease, which cause demyelination. Amplitude denote the number of functioning fibers and it is altered in diseases causing axonal degeneration. OBJECTIVES The aim of the study is to assess the effect of hypertension on motor nerve conduction. METHODS The study was conducted in the Department of Physiology. The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Ethical Committee. A written informed consent was obtained from each participant. The study was done in 50 hypertensive patients and 50 normotensive subjects between the age group of 40-60 years. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS Unpaired 't' test was used to find the statistical significance between both groups. The data was analysed using the Microsoft excel software. Group statistics was done and expressed as mean±SD. RESULT The results of motor nerve conduction variables were not statistically significant between control group and hypertensive group. (P >0.05). CONCLUSION Hypertension may produce axonal degeneration, but may not be affecting the myelination thus preserving nerve conduction velocity. Thus, hypertension itself may not affect the nerve conduction variables. Extensive studies are required to study the effect of hypertension in nerve conduction taking into consideration the duration, age, BMI and severity.

BACKGROUND Obesity is defined as having excess body fat due to 'calorie imbalance'-too few calories expended for the amount of calories consumed. Childhood obesity has both immediate and long-term effects on health and well-being. This study is aimed to highlight the burden of obesity among school children. The objectives of this study are to find the prevalence of obesity among school children aged 11-15 years and to compare prevalence of obesity among school children of government and private schools. MATERIALS AND METHODS School-based cross-sectional study conducted in 2 private and 2 government schools of a rural area in Trivandrum district. Total 800 students (200 from each school) aged 11-15 years in 6 th to 10 th standards were selected by systematic random sampling and consent were obtained. Height (cm) and weight (kg) were measured using stadiometer and standardised weighing machine, respectively. Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated and categorised as underweight, normal, overweight and obese. The prevalence is expressed in percentages. RESULTS In this study, the total prevalence of overweight and obesity among the total 800 school children is found to be 4% and 1%, respectively. An alarming incidental finding is that the underweight prevalence is 61%, which is significantly high and should be addressed. The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity is 4.25% and 1.75%, respectively in private schools, whereas it is 3.5% and 1%, respectively, in government schools. There is not a significant difference between private and government school children. This may be due to the awareness about problems of obesity and its effects among school children and also timely health checkups in the schools. CONCLUSION This study done in a rural area found that there is a significant prevalence of obesity and overweight as well as a very high prevalence of underweight. It indicates that childhood obesity is an emerging health problem in rural areas and has to be prevented. Health education should be given to parents, teachers and children regarding dietary habit and sedentary lifestyle.