World Hypertension Day is observed on May 17 every year in order to increase awareness and to promote hypertension prevention, detection and control.
More than one billion people around the world live with hypertension.
The burden of hypertension is disproportionately high in low- and middle-income countries, where 75% of cases are found, largely due to increased risk factors in these populations in recent decades. What’s more alarming is 50% of people living with hypertension are unaware of their condition, putting them at risk of avoidable medical complications and death.
- Less than half of adults (42%) with hypertension are actually diagnosed and treated.
- Approximately, 1 in 5 adults (21%) with hypertension have it under control.
- High blood pressure (BP) (hypertension) can quietly damage our arteries (blood vessels) for years before a person develops symptoms.
- Risk factors include older age (now even young individuals), overweight or obesity, genetics, lack of physical activity, high salt/sodium intake, and high alcohol intake.
- Uncontrolled BP can lead to disability, a poor quality of life, or even a heart attack, brain attack (stroke), blindness, kidney failure or premature death.
Timely detection, proper treatment & follow up with your doctor, lifestyle changes like eating a healthier diet (more vegetables and fruits), quitting tobacco & alcohol and being more active physically (sit less), losing weight can help control high BP to reduce the risk of life-threatening complications.
