World Hypertension Day 2024: Theme and Background
Important Day
5 min read
The world observes 17 May as World Hypertension Day. The day is observed to raise public awareness about hypertension as a silent but deadly public health issue. Hypertension rarely causes any symptoms but can cause a high death rate as it increases the risk of heart attacks, stroke, renal failure, and other end-organ damage.
Hypertension is considered to be a lifestyle disease like diabetes, which is preventable and can be managed and controlled with proper lifestyle management and medication.
Background to the World Hypertension Day
The World Hypertension League observed the first World Hypertension Day on 14 May 2005. From 2006 onwards, World Hypertension Day is observed on 17 May every year.
The main purpose of starting World Hypertension Day was to communicate to the public the importance of hypertension and its serious medical complications and to provide information on its prevention, detection, and management.
Theme of the 2024 World Hypertension Day
World Hypertension League selects a theme for the World Hypertension Day.
The theme for 2024 World Hypertension Day is "Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer!"
What is Hypertension?
Hypertension is also popularly known as high blood pressure. When a person's blood pressure is 140/90 mmHg or higher, they are diagnosed as having hypertension.
Human blood pressure is written in two numbers. The first number is called systolic, which represents the pressure exerted in the blood vessels when the heart contracts or beats. The other number, also known as diastolic, represents the pressure in the vessels when the heart rests between beats.
A person is diagnosed with Hypertension if the systolic blood pressure reading is consistently equal to or more than 140 mmHg and/or the diastolic blood pressure reading is equal to or more than 90 mmHg.
Who are at Risk?
People who are of older age, overweight, physically not active, drink too much alcohol, are on a high salt diet or, due to genetic factors, are at a high risk of hypertension.
A normal human being, when at rest, has a heat beat of 60 to 100 per minute. The lower the heartbeat, the better the condition of the person's heart. A higher heartbeat indicates a human heart which is not in good condition.
The heartbeat rate may differ depending on various other factors.
Disease due to Hypertension
Many people do not exhibit symptoms of hypertension. However, some may experience dizziness, blurred vision, anxiety, buzzing in the ear, nosebleeds etc.
Hypertension may cause complications in the human body. High blood pressure can cause serious damage to heat and can cause chest pain called angina, heart attack, heart failure, etc.
High blood pressure can also lead to blockage or bursting of arteries, affecting the supply of oxygen to the brain and causing stroke in the person. In addition, hypertension can cause kidney damage, leading to kidney failure.
Cure and Prevention
Hypertension can be prevented if the person follows an active lifestyle and eats proper foods. A person who has been diagnosed with hypertension can control it by changing their lifestyle, modifying their dietary habits and taking proper medication.
