The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its first report on high blood pressure globally. The World Health Organization has said that nearly four out of every five people with high blood pressure are not adequately treated. But if countries expand treatment, 76 million (76 million) deaths could be prevented between 2023 and 2050. WHO has released its report on high blood pressure.
Key points
- High blood pressure (hypertension) is affecting one in three adults worldwide.
- According to reports, high blood pressure is a deadly condition that causes stroke, heart attack, heart failure, kidney damage and many other health problems.
- More than half (52 percent) of deaths due to cardiovascular diseases are caused by high blood pressure.
- High blood pressure can be controlled effectively with simple and low-cost medicine
- Only one in five people with high blood pressure has it under control, although treatment is possible.
- The number of people suffering from high blood pressure has doubled (from 650 million to 1.3 billion) between 1990 and 2019.
- Nearly half of people suffering from high blood pressure globally are currently unaware of their condition.
- More than three-quarters of adults with high blood pressure live in low- and middle-income countries.
In the context of India
- 31 percent of the country’s population or 188.3 million people are currently living with the condition.
- Only 37 percent of Indians suffering from high blood pressure are diagnosed and only 30 percent get treatment.
- According to WHO’s hypertension report, 4.6 million lives could be saved in India by 2040 with better control.
- According to a paper in The Lancet, Regional Health (South-East Asia), published late last year, hypertension is the most important risk factor for death and disability in India.
- The 2019-2020 National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) reported hypertension at 24% among men and 21% among women, higher than 19% and 17% respectively from the previous round (2015-16).
- India runs the India Hypertension Control Initiative programme, a large-scale hypertension control effort under the National Health Mission.
Causes of high blood pressure in India
The following points have been listed
- high salt intake
- tobacco use
- obesity
- alcohol abuse
- Lack of physical exercise, etc.
- The report identified tobacco use (28 percent) and physical inactivity (34 percent) as the two most powerful triggers in India.
Preventive measures
- Eating fruits and vegetables (which contain blood pressure-lowering potassium)
- Should avoid alcohol consumption
- physical activity
- good sleep habits
- Decrease exposure to air pollution
- Yoga, meditation and music, etc.