World Hypertension Day is annually observed across the globe on 17th May to create awareness and promote hypertension prevention, detection and control. Hypertension, also known as high or raised blood pressure, is a condition in which the blood vessels have persistently raised pressure.
The theme of WHD 2022 is “Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer”.
Background:
The first World Hypertension Day was observed on 14 May 2005 by the World Hypertension League, an umbrella organisation of 85 national hypertension societies.
Hypertension:
i.Hypertension is a severe medical condition and can increase the risk of heart, brain, kidney and other diseases.
ii.It is a major cause of premature death worldwide, with upwards of 1 in 4 men and 1 in 5 women, over a billion people, having the condition.
Key Points:
i.Hypertension affects more than 30% of the adult population worldwide, which is more than one billion people in the world.
ii.According to the latest report by the Indian Council for Medical Research, 1 in 4 adults in India suffer from hypertension and only 10% of patients have their blood pressure under control.
iii.High-stress levels, obesity, poor dietary habits, and a sedentary lifestyle are some of the major causes of hypertension in young people.
iv.Prolonged hypertension also increases the risk of several medical conditions like chronic kidney disease, stroke, heart failure and others.
