World Hypertension Day is celebrated every year What is Hypertension?

on 17th of May to raise the public awareness about
hypertension and to encourage citizens of all
countries to prevent and control this silent killer, the
modern epidemic. It was first celebrated on 14thof
May in the year 2005 organized by the World
Hypertension League.
The theme for World Hypertension Day is Know
Your Numbers with a goal of increasing high blood
pressure (BP) awareness in all populations around
the world.
High blood pressure (hypertension) is an increase in
pressure inside the arteries, the vessels that carry
blood from the heart. This is usually caused by
constriction, or narrowing, of the arteries. The heart
then has to work harder to pump blood to the rest of
the body.

What do the numbers mean?

A common blood pressure might be 120/80 (said as '120 over 80'). These values are quoted in units known as
millimetres of mercury (mmHg).
There are 2 numbers because the blood pressure varies with the heartbeat. The higher pressure (120)
represents the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats, pumping blood into the arteries. This pressure is
called systolic pressure. The lower pressure (80) represents the pressure in the arteries when the heart is
relaxed between beats. This pressure is called diastolic pressure.
Your blood pressure is considered high if you have systolic pressure of 140 mmHg or more and/or diastolic
pressure of 90 mmHg or more. At these levels, the force of blood against the walls of your arteries is too high
and the workload on your heart is increased.
High blood pressure is the number one risk factor for stroke and a major risk factor for heart disease. The
chance of stroke, heart attack and congestive heart failure are dramatically reduced when patients have their
blood pressure successfully managed through lifestyle changes and/or medication.

What causes High Blood Pressure?

For most people with high blood pressure, there is no identifiable cause. This is called essential hypertension.
In general, family history (genetics) and lifestyle contribute. Your risk of developing essential hypertension
increases with age. Lifestyle factors can also increase your risk of essential hypertension, including:
 Being overweight
 Excessive alcohol
 Too much salt in your diet
 Lack of exercise
 Stress
In some people, high blood pressure does have an identifiable cause (less than 5%). This is called secondary
hypertension. Common causes-
 Kidney disease
 Hormone disorders
 Certain drugs (such as birth control pills and NSAIDs)
 Sleep apnea (repeated, short stops in breathing while sleeping)
How do I know if I’ve got High Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure does not usually cause symptoms. Many people with high blood pressure are not
aware that they have the condition.
If high blood pressure is severe, you may have symptoms that include:
 Severe headache
 Shortness of breath
 Tiredness/fatigue
 Nausea and vomiting
 Vision problems
This increase in pressure eventually causes damage to the walls of the arteries. If untreated, high
blood pressure can lead to many problems throughout the body, particularly in the heart, brain and
kidneys. Eventually, high blood pressure can cause a heart attack or stroke. It is also a major factor in
the development of dementia. High blood pressure is often called “the silent killer” because it usually
has no symptoms.

Treatment-
High blood pressure can be lowered with lifestyle changes and medications.
Lifestyle Changes, such as
 Losing weight and eating a healthy diet such as the DASH diet (rich in fruits and vegetables, low-fat
dairy, reduce saturated and total fat)
 Reducing salt (no more than 1,500 mg/day)
 Reducing alcohol intake (males, no more than two drinks per day and females, no more than one drink
per day)
 Getting more exercise (at least 30 mins per day, most days of the week)
 Managing stress

Compiled by: SBG – Health Care Department