World Hypertension Day: Ways to prevent and control this silent killer

Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, is a condition in which the pressure in the blood vessels is too high. A person has hypertension if the pressure in the blood vessels is 140/90 mmHg or higher.

Globally, hypertension is a serious medical condition. And the purpose of World Hypertension Day, every May 17, is to raise awareness of high blood pressure which affects over a billion people globally.

According to WHO, “an estimate of 1.28 billion adults, aged 30–79 years worldwide have hypertension, most (two-thirds) living in low- and middle-income countries; an estimated 46% of adults with hypertension are unaware that they have the condition, less than half of adults (42%) with hypertension are diagnosed and treated; approximately 1 in 5 adults (21%) with hypertension have it under control.”

People with high blood pressure may not feel many obvious symptoms, but may feel symptoms such as: severe headaches, chest pain, dizziness,nausea,
blurred vision and abnormal heart rhythm. These symptoms may differ, the only way to know is reduce stress and get your blood checked frequently.

When the blood pressure is too high, it could lead to many health problems such as: heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, adrenal gland tumors, and even death.

Thus far, scientists are still seeking to find the major cause of hypertension, but habits and things that increase the risk of having high blood pressure include:

1. Obesity
2. Genetics
3. Smoking of tobacco
4. Older age
5. Unhealthy eating habits and
6. Excessive intake of alcohol.

However, the best ways to prevent and control the silent killer are to:

– Reduce salt intake (try to stay under 2 grams per day)

– Don’t eat foods high in saturated or trans fats.

– Avoid smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol excessively.

– Regular medical checks.

– Practise healthy feeding habit, especially intake of vegetables and fruits.

– Do workout exercises at least twice in a week.

– Sit less; walk, swim, run and dance more.

In conclusion, one of the global targets for noncommunicable diseases is to reduce the prevalence of hypertension by 33% between 2010 and 2030. Be a part of this initiative, commemorate the World Hypertension Day by sharing this with people around you.