Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, affects over 1 billion people worldwide and is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. A study in Pakistan found a prevalence of hypertension of 35.1%, with over 60% of hypertensive patients aware of their condition but only 75.3% receiving treatment. The document outlines the types, risk factors, causes, signs and symptoms, treatment, and resources for hypertension. It also discusses World Hypertension Day which aims to increase awareness of prevention and control of high blood pressure.
9. WHAT IS HYPERTENSION?
Hypertension is another name for high blood pressure. It can lead to severe complications and
increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and death.
11. Epidemiology
Hypertension is an epidemic affecting one billion people and is
the commonest risk factor for death throughout the world. World
health statistics 2012 has estimated the prevalence of
hypertension to be 29.2% in males and 24.8% in females.
Approximately 90 percent for men and women who are non
hypertensive at 55 or 65 years will develop hypertension by the
age of 80–85.
12. PREVALENCE IN PAKISTAN
There is limited updated information on the
prevalence of hypertension in the Pakistani
population. This is a cross-sectional study based
on data collected during multiple health
screening camps held at multiple locations in
rural central Punjab, Pakistan in the period
between 2008 and 2015. A total of 13,722
patients were included in this study. Crude
prevalence of hypertension was 35.1% and
standardized prevalence was 34.4%.
Among patients with hypertension, 62.3% were
aware of having high blood pressure; among
these patients, 75.3% were already on treatment
for hypertension.
13. TYPES OF HYPERTENSION
PRIMARY
This is called “primary hypertension or essential. In most cases the causes of
this type of hypertension is not known, the majority of people with this type of
hypertension feel no different from those who have normal blood pressure.
SECONDARY
This is when high blood pressure is as a result of other medical problems or
medication e.g. Kidney or Liver diseases.
19. WORLD
HYPERTENSION DAY
“ Every May 17th, the PanAmerican Health
Organization/ World Health Organization
joins the global community to celebrate
World Hypertension Day as an opportunity
to emphasize the need to work on the
prevention and control of hypertension, in
order to prevent deaths from
cardiovascular diseases” (PAHO WHO |
World Hypertension Day 2017: Know your
numbers, 2017)
20. EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
MOREINFORMATION ON HYPERTENSIONAND COMPLEMENTARYAPPROACHES
• National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
• https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/
• National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
• https://nccih.nih.gov/
• American Heart Association
• http://www.heart.org
• American Society of Hypertension
• http://www.ash-us.org/
• National Institute of Health
• https://www.nih.gov/health-information
• USFood & Drug Administration
• https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/SpecialFeatures/ucm358442.htm
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention
• https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/
