The Silent Killer

High blood pressure, or #hypertension, is the primary risk factor for #heartdisease and #stroke, and the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. In 2000, high blood pressure affected over 972 million people globally, and it is estimated to increase to 1.56 billion by 2025.

It is a slow disease process that develops with no signs and symptoms and, as a consequence, often persists for long periods of time without being detected and diagnosis. It is very common for those who have it to continue through life feeling well and unaffected. However, as time passes, the effects of the disease process can lead to sudden heart attacks, heart disease, congestive heart failure, and stroke dubbing it “The Silent Killer”.

About 50% of individuals with high blood pressure are not even aware that they have the disease, and in some populations the awareness rate is as low as 10%.

High Blood Pressure in the USA

The CDC has reported that high blood pressure affects about 1 in every 3 adults; and only half of this population (52%) has their disease under control. One out of every three American adults has pre-hypertension.

The Global Effect of High Blood Pressure

A report by the World Hypertensive League (WHL) states that increased blood pressure had a profound global effect in 2010, resulting in 18% of deaths. Globally approximately 4 out of 10 adults have high blood pressure, and 1 in 5 have prehypertension. Blood pressure varies by age, race, and ethnicity, and now affects individuals in both low and middle-income countries. The United Nations aims to reduce high blood pressure by 25% by the year 2025, and the WHL is partnering with national hypertensive organizations, as well as governmental and non-governmental partners to help the UN achieve this goal.

Causes of High Blood Pressure

According to the WHL an unhealthy diet accounts for about half the cases of high blood pressure; about 30% is related to an increase in salt intake, and 20% related to low dietary potassium (low fruit and vegetable consumption). Obesity is related to about 30% of all cases, while physical inactivity relates to about 20%. High blood pressure is also influenced by smoking and the consumption of excess alcohol and saturated fat. All these risk factors are a byproduct of lifestyle choices, thus modifying ones lifestyle can help to prevent high blood pressure. However, in the event that lifestyle modifications fail to control blood pressure, medications are the next line of treatment. That being said, medication compliance is poor worldwide.

World Hypertension Day (WHD)

In 2005 the WHL launched World Hypertension Day (WHD) in response to the global statistics indicating that 50% of those living with high blood pressure were not even aware that they had the disease. The goal of WHD is to bring heightened awareness to this deadly disease, and screen and educate populations on prevention and management. WHD has since become an annual global event which, for the 5 year period from 2013-2018, will focus on increasing global awareness of this disease and encouraging individuals to “know your numbers” so as to prevent the disease, or effectively treat and manage the disease process.

Know Your Numbers

What exactly are “the numbers” that measure blood pressure and help to distinguish between normal, elevated, high, and critical blood pressures? The table below outlines the parameters given by the American College of Cardiology, November 2017.

Normal Elevated Stage 1 Stage 2 Hypertensive Crisis Systolic Less than 120 120-129 and 130-139 or 140 or higher or Over 180 and/or Diastolic Less than 80 Less than 80 80-89 90 or higher Over 120

Increasing Awareness/Promoting Screening Programs

According to the International Society of Hypertension awareness can be increased in two main ways:

• Community screening programs

• Routine assessments at all clinical encounters

In 2014, the WHD campaign challenged WHL members and partners to screen and submit blood pressure readings for 100,000 individuals. Not only was that goal met, it was surpassed threefold, with a total of 300,000 screenings and blood pressure recordings being submitted from over 30 nations! In 2015, the goal was to screen and record over 1 million individuals, during a one-month period from April 17th – May 17th.

Although an abundant source of information and knowledge exists on prevention and effective management of high blood pressure, global control rates are poor. In addition, effective preventive programs are hindered because of lack of baseline and national data from many countries.

Worldwide Hypertensive Surveillance

The worldwide surveillance of high blood pressure is primarily accomplished through surveys. However, because global surveys differ so widely from country to country with regard to questions and techniques, valid accurate surveillance is very difficult to accomplish. Moving forward, in order for global surveillance and tracking to be effective and valid, there is a call for the WHL or the International Hypertension Society to play a lead role in standardizing global hypertension surveillance.

#yourwellnessmatters365 #ywm365 #hypertension #HighBloodPressure #TheSilentKiller #WorldHypertensivLeague #UnitedNations #WorldHypertensionDay #KnowYourNumbers