World Hypertension Day -

Highlights:

World hypertension day is celebrated on 17 May to raise awareness and advocate its prevention, detection, and control
Over one billion are affected with hypertension, one of the key risk factors for cardiovascular disease
The 2023 theme for this day is “Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer”

World Hypertension Day is marked on May 17, dedicated to emphasize the significance of blood pressure monitoring and generating global awareness for the 1 billion people living with hypertension worldwide ().

World Hypertension Day: Unmasking the Silent Threat
Elevate global awareness on hypertension through precise measurement techniques & proactive lifestyle changes.

‘May 17 is World Hypertension Day, an annual observance aimed at raising awareness and educating about hypertension, as a significant number of adults (46%) are unaware of their condition, as per WHO statistics.’

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What is Hypertension?

Hypertension or high blood pressure is characterized by systolic blood pressure above 140 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure above 90 mm Hg (). It is often referred to as the “silent killer” because it has no obvious symptoms or symptoms being misunderstood ().

The global prevalence of hypertension exceeds one billion individuals, posing a significant threat to cardiovascular disease and premature mortality worldwide (). High blood pressure alone accounts for over 50% of cardiovascular disease (CVD) — one of the leading causes of death in America ().

Low- and middle-income countries bear the brunt, accounting for two-thirds of cases due to heightened risk factors with almost half of those with hypertension remaining undiagnosed ().

However, regular blood pressure monitoring and treatment offer effective prevention and management strategies for hypertension ().

Blood Pressure Chart
Blood pressure is the pressure of the blood flowing through your blood vessels against the vessel walls. Just by entering you age, you can get the accurate range of blood pressure value.

The 2023 Theme

This year, the 2023 theme of the day is – Measure your blood pressure accurately, Control it, Live Longer ().

The theme centers around addressing global low awareness rates, particularly in low to middle-income regions, and promoting accurate blood pressure measurement techniques ().

Pan American Health Organization (PAHO — specialized international health agency for America) advocates for the adoption of evidence-based actions by countries, including reducing salt consumption, promoting healthy lifestyles, focusing on physical activity and nutrition, and reinforcing primary healthcare services to improve the identification, treatment, and management of hypertension in populations ().

Quiz on Hypertension
It stealthily creeps in and catches people unawares. Find out more about this ‘silent killer’ by participating in the quiz.

From Awareness to Action: Know Your Numbers for Global Impact

The World Hypertension League (WHL), comprising 85 national hypertension societies and leagues (), initiated a global awareness campaign on May 14, 2005, with the theme "Know Your Numbers!" () to address the issue of more than 50% of the hypertensive population being unaware of their condition ().

This led to the establishment of World Hypertension Day (WHD) on May 17 each year, gaining record participation from 47 member countries in 2007 and reaching over 250 million people through media and public rallies ().

Today, it has grown into an annual global event to raise awareness about hypertension () and reach almost all 1.5 billion individuals affected by high blood pressure through continued engagement of multiple stakeholders () that includes collaboration between healthcare professionals, media, volunteers organizations, and government ().

Blood Pressure Calculator
Blood pressure readings – what do the numbers mean? Use Medindia’s blood pressure calculator to check whether you blood pressure is at healthy level.

Measures Taken

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and global partners like WHO have collaborated since 2016 to develop innovative strategies for hypertension prevention, control, and overall heart health improvement worldwide, emphasizing the importance of testing, knowing one's numbers, and achieving longevity ().

This involves Global Hearts Initiative, which encompasses five technical packages, including HEARTS, MPOWER, Active, SHAKE, and REPLACE, to combat cardiovascular diseases and achieve a 25% reduction in hypertension prevalence by 2025 ().

HEARTS, specifically designed for primary health care, offers guidance on enhanced detection and treatment of hypertension. Presently, HEARTS in the Americas operates in 22 countries with the participation of 1,380 health facilities, contributing to the global efforts to improve heart health and ensure timely diagnosis and treatment for patients with high blood pressure (,).

Using technology to enhance healthcare, the partnership between CDC and PAHO also focuses on empowering primary care clinics in the Americas with user-friendly and innovative apps to mitigate heart disease risks and improve the well-being of individuals living with high blood pressure (). Alongside, active self-care participation is also essential, in complementing regular blood pressure monitoring, engaging in physical activity, adopting a healthy diet, and minimizing alcohol intake. Raising hypertension control from the current rate of 36% to 50% could potentially prevent approximately 420,000 cardiovascular disease-related deaths annually in the region ().

Facts on Hypertension

Hypertension often presents no symptoms, but when left untreated, it can result in severe complications such as heart attacks, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, and blindness ().

Affecting approximately one in six adults in the Americas, hypertension stands as the primary risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, the region's leading cause of death claiming about 2 million lives annually ().

Globally, an estimated 46% of individuals with hypertension are unaware of their condition, while less than half of all adults with hypertension receive diagnosis and treatment ().

In the Americas, adults typically consume an average of 8.5g of salt per day, which exceeds the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended levels of less than 5g per day, indicating a high sodium (salt) intake (a risk factor for hypertension) ().

Merely 1 in 5 adults with hypertension have their condition under control, leaving 80% at significant risk of complications like heart attack, stroke, irregular heartbeat, and kidney damage ().

Americans exhibit the highest prevalence of overweight and obesity among all WHO regions, affecting approximately 62.5% of the population, while also ranking as the least physically active region among the six WHO regions ().

The WHO South-East Asia Region is taking swift action to prevent, detect, and control hypertension, affecting around 1.28 billion individuals worldwide, with two-thirds of them residing in low- and middle-income countries ().

Lack of awareness, underdiagnosis, and undertreatment pose substantial challenges in effectively managing hypertension in the region ().

This year, join hands to scale up hypertension services and improve access to primary health care which are critical to address the escalating burden of hypertension.

References:

World Hypertension Day – May 17 - (https://www.cdc.gov/globalhealth/healthprotection/resources/awareness/world-hypertension-day.html)
Why High Blood Pressure is a "Silent Killer" - (https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/why-high-blood-pressure-is-a-silent-killer)
World Hypertension Day - (https://www.paho.org/en/world-hypertension-day)
Cardiovascular Risk Calculator - (https://www.paho.org/en/hearts-americas/cardiovascular-risk-calculator-app)
There’s an App for That: Reducing Heart Disease Risk in the Americas - (https://www.cdc.gov/globalhealth/healthprotection/stories/Reducing-Heart-Disease-Risk-in-Americas.html)
Factsheet - World Hypertension Day 2023 - (https://www.paho.org/en/documents/factsheet-world-hypertension-day-2023)
About World Hypertension Day - (https://whleague.org/about-us/world-hypertension-day)
World Hypertension Day and global awareness - (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2643187/)
World Hypertension Day: “Measure your blood pressure, control it, live longer” - (https://www.who.int/southeastasia/news/detail/17-05-2022-world-hypertension-day---measure-your-blood-pressure--control-it--live-longer)