World hypertension day is celebrated every year on the 17th of May to spread awareness about hypertension. Hypertension is a condition where the blood pressure level increases beyond 140/90 mmHg. High blood pressure results in narrowing of blood vessels, also known as atherosclerosis, which can lead to serious complications such as heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, etc.
Causes- It can be caused by smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, unhealthy eating habits, lack of exercise, stress, and other factors. Hypertension is sometimes hereditary.
Symptoms- Symptoms of hypertension include headaches, nausea, sweating, anxiety, etc. However, several people with hypertension do not experience any symptoms. Hence, it is termed as a “silent killer”, making it essential to regularly monitor the blood pressure levels using a blood pressure monitor to prevent serious complications.
Cure- A lifestyle disease, hypertension can be kept under control and prevented through a change in diet such as consuming less salt, reduced alcohol intake, and quitting smoking. Other methods include regular exercise, stress management, and monitoring blood pressure levels.
Statistics- Approximately 33.8% urban India and 27.6% rural India, suffer from hypertension with a known overall prevalence of approximately 29.8%. Almost 1 in 10 adults suffer from it but there are many who are still unaware of the fact that they suffer from it.
Here are some of the activities related to hypertension undertaken in India:
India Hypertension Control Initiative is a 5-year initiative which goes on till 2022. It aims to improve hypertension management by expanding to 100 districts in India and equipping them with quality treatment.
The International Society of Hypertension created a yearly global aware programme called May Measurement Month. The programme increases blood pressure screenings and spreads awareness.
