In its first-ever report, the World Health Organization (WHO) shows approximately 4 out of every 5 people with hypertension are not adequately treated, but if countries can scale up coverage, 76 million deaths could be averted between 2023 and 2050.

The report not only shows the devastating global impact of high blood pressure but also gives recommendations on the ways to win the race against this silent killer.

Nearly half of people with hypertension globally are currently unaware of their condition. More than three-quarters of adults with hypertension live in low- and middle-income countries.

On the prevalence of hypertension in India, the report said 188.3 million people in the country were living with the condition, but only 37% of these were aware of their status. Only 30% of the estimated people living with hypertension start treatment, while only 15% manage to keep their blood pressure under control.

LEARNING FROM HOME/ WITHOUT CLASSES/ BASICS

Hypertension affects 1 in 3 adults worldwide.  This common, deadly condition leads to stroke, heart attack, heart failure, kidney damage and many other health problems.

Often dubbed as a ‘silent killer’, Hypertension or High Blood Pressure is a common heart anomaly agonizing almost 26% of the world populace wherein the arterial blood pressure increases to elevated levels ultimately leading to heart attacks, strokes, dementia and even death. Although there can be plenty of contributors to high blood pressure, the most common ones include a sedentary lifestyle, excessive sodium intake, obesity, age, family history, lifestyle habits, smoking, stress, etc.

An optimum blood pressure reading is 120/80 mm Hg (i.e., mercury); where the upper number indicates the systolic pressure (i.e., pressure in the arteries when the heart beats
and gets filled with blood) and the lower number cites the diastolic pressure (i.e., pressure in the arteries when the heart is in a resting phase in between two beats).

The higher the force of the blood, the more the arteries stretch and allow blood to pass through it. When this force is constantly high for a longer time duration, the tissues that make the wall of the arteries stretch far beyond their healthy limit, and therefore, get damaged.

Management and treatment

Lifestyle adjustments are the standard, first-line treatment for hypertension. We outline some recommendations here:

Regular physical exercise

Stress reduction

Avoiding or learning to manage stress can help a person control blood pressure. Meditation,
warm baths, yoga, and simply going on long walks are relaxation techniques that can help relieve stress.

Reducing salt intake

Moderating alcohol consumption

Eating more fruit and vegetables and less fat

Managing body weight

India has set a target of 25% relative reduction in the prevalence of hypertension (raised blood pressure) by 2025. To achieve this, the Government of India launched the Indian Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI), in 2017, to fast-track access to treatment services
for over 220 million people in India who have hypertension.