World Hypertension Day
World Hypertension day is celebrated annually on the 17th May. The main aim of the day is to educate the public and increase awareness of hypertension, which is also commonly known as high blood pressure.
Hypertension is a major cause of a range of health problems such as strokes, heart attacks and kidney disease, and can also contribute to dementia. Many people who suffer from hypertension are not aware that they have it as there can be no symptoms, often people only find out after suffering a heart attack or stroke.
The day is organised by the World Hypertension League (WHL) which is an umbrella organisation composed of 85 hypertension societies and leagues from all over the world.
The theme for this year is Know Your Numbers, and the WHL would like to encourage as many people as possible to get involved in May Measurement Month. In this initiative which started in 2017, volunteer manned screening sites will be setting up in a range of venues around the world to check the blood pressure of as many people as possible.
More information about World Hypertension Day can be found at www.whleague.org and those interested in taking part in May Measurement Month can register interest at www.maymeasure.com. Further information and advice about Hypertension can also be found at your local pharmacist or GP surgery.
Hypertension is a public health epidemic.
- Approximately 4 in 10 adults over age 25 have hypertension and in many countries another 1 in 5 have pre-hypertension.
- An estimated 9/10 adults living to 80 years of age will develop hypertension.
- One half of blood pressure-related disease occurs in people with higher levels of blood pressure even within the normal range.
These are the numbers to watch when you have had your blood pressure tested:
- Normal: Under 120/80
- Prehypertension: 120/80 to 139/89
- Hypertension Stage 1: 140/90 to 159/99
- Hypertension Stage 2: 160/100 or higher
- Hypertension Crisis: Above 180/110
History
World Hypertension Day is an initiative of the World Hypertension League (WHL), a part of the International Society of Hypertension. WHL the day to increase the common public awareness about hypertension. The group launched the campaign of World Hypertension Day first time on May 14 in 2005 however it moved to May 17 in 2006.
