World Hypertension Day

In today's fast-paced world, hypertension, also known as high blood pressure has emerged as a silent killer, fueled by the popularity of fast food and sedentary lifestyles. While technological advancements have made our lives very convenient, we must ask ourselves at what cost?

World Hypertension Day  |  Source: International Society for Hypertension

In today’s fast-paced world, the daily routine of most people somewhat follows a similar trajectory. Grabbing quick breakfast sandwiches with coffee in the morning, working long hours sitting at a desk or studying, skipping meals and then getting takeouts in the evening. At night, scrolling on the internet while eating food high in sugar and salt and not getting enough hours of sleep is also common. This lifestyle leads to the high blood pressure condition, known as Hypertension.

Hypertension is a long-term medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is persistently elevated. It is a major risk factor that leads to heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and other health problems. It is estimated that nearly one billion people globally are affected by hypertension, and this figure is likely to increase to 1.5 billion by 2025. Even more worrying fact is that almost one-half of this population is unaware of their condition, as recognised by the World Hypertension League. WHO has also declared hypertension as the leading cause of cardiovascular mortality.

In this context, World Hypertension Day becomes extremely important in terms of highlighting this hazardous health risk and prompting countries to take action for the same. The institution behind the origin of this day is the World Hypertension League (WHL) which established this international day in 2005 to promote public awareness of hypertension, encourage its prevention, and improve its control. The theme for World Hypertension Day changes each year, focusing on different aspects of hypertension prevention and management. The theme for WHD 2023 is, “Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer”.

Hypertension is often without any noticeable symptoms and even when there are symptoms like dizziness, recurring headaches or even breathing difficulties, they are dismissed as trivial issues. Therefore, WHD is a quest to make people and institutions conscious and aware of the consequences. Through its themes, it encourages people to measure blood pressure regularly, especially for those at higher risk, including individuals with a family history of hypertension, obesity, and those who lead sedentary lifestyles.

The celebration of World Hypertension Day provides an opportunity for healthcare professionals, organisations, and individuals to come together to raise awareness about hypertension and promote healthy lifestyles. It is a day to emphasise the importance of regular physical activity and healthy eating habits. Several events are organised globally to mark World Hypertension Day. Some of them include free blood pressure screenings, educational seminars and workshops, and community health fairs. These activities help people understand the importance of early detection and management of hypertension.

World Hypertension Day also encourages collaboration between healthcare professionals and community organisations to develop effective hypertension prevention and management strategies like providing educational resources and accessibility to medication.

A recent report by WHO found that the sodium intake globally has become off track and way above the permissible amount. Specifically, countries in Asia are doing worse in this area with China being number one and India following it. Hence, World Hypertension Day should become a day for people to give up some bad habits like eating fast food and not getting any physical activity, and some good habits like going for walks and cooking simple meals can be adopted to make a small start.