Global Report on Hypertension 2023
Why In News:
- Recently the World Health Organization (WHO) released its first report on the global impact of high blood pressure.
Main point:
- The global report on high blood pressure reports that nearly four out of every five people with high blood pressure are not receiving adequate treatment.
- However, if countries could expand their coverage of hypertension treatment, it could potentially prevent 76 million deaths between 2023 and 2050.
Theme:
- “Global Report on High Blood Pressure: The Race Against a Silent Killer”
Statistics on High Blood Pressure:
- Hypertension is a significant risk factor for death and disability in India, with less than one-fourth of hypertensive patients having their blood pressure under control during 2016-2020.
- The prevalence of hypertension has increased in India, with 24% of men and 21% of women reported to have hypertension in the 2019-2020 National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5).
- The number of high blood pressure cases has doubled from 650 million to 1.3 billion between 1990 and 2019.
- More than three-quarters of adults with high blood pressure live in low- and middle-income countries.
- WHO recommends lifestyle changes, such as a healthy diet, quitting tobacco, and increasing physical activity, as ways to reduce blood pressure.
Recommendations on high blood pressure:
- There is a need to strengthen hypertension control programs which are given low priority and receive little funding.
- The report recommends that ensuring hypertension control should be an integral part of every country’s path towards universal health coverage.
High blood pressure in low- and middle-income countries:
- The prevalence of hypertension varies across different regions and income groups of the country. The WHO African Region has the highest prevalence of hypertension (27%) while the WHO Americas Region has the lowest prevalence of hypertension (18%).
- The number of adults with hypertension increased from 594 million in 1975 to 1.13 billion in 2015, with the increase seen primarily in low- and middle-income countries. This increase is primarily due to increased risk factors for hypertension in those populations.
In terms of high blood pressure:
- High blood pressure (hypertension) occurs when the pressure in your blood vessels is too high (140/90 mmHg or higher). This is normal, but can become serious if left untreated.
- People with high blood pressure may not feel symptoms. The only way to find out is to get your blood pressure checked.
- Blood pressure is written as two numbers. The first (systolic) number represents the pressure in the blood vessels when the heart contracts or beats. The second (diastolic) number shows the pressure in the vessels when the heart rests between beats.
- High blood pressure is diagnosed when it is measured on two separate days, the systolic blood pressure reading is ≥140 mmHg on both days and/or the diastolic blood pressure reading is ≥90 mmHg on both days.
- Most people with high blood pressure do not feel any symptoms. Very high blood pressure can cause headaches, blurred vision, chest pain, and other symptoms.
SOURCE – PIB