In May, we mark World Hypertension Awareness Week, a global initiative dedicated to raising awareness about high blood pressure and its serious impact on public health.
Often referred to as the “silent killer,” hypertension can develop without noticeable symptoms while significantly increasing the risk of stroke, heart disease, kidney failure, disability, and premature death.
Hypertension affects an estimated 1.3–1.4 billion people worldwide. Despite its prevalence, only around one in five people manage to keep their blood pressure under control, while millions remain undiagnosed. According to the World Hypertension League, raised blood pressure is the single largest contributing risk factor to poor health globally, highlighting the urgent need for better prevention, early detection, and effective treatment.
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a common condition that affects the body’s arteries. It occurs when the force of blood pushing against artery walls remains consistently too high, causing the heart to work harder to pump blood throughout the body.
Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), and in general, hypertension is defined as a reading of 130/80 mm Hg or higher.
The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association classify blood pressure into four main categories.
Normal blood pressure is lower than 120/80 mm Hg. Elevated blood pressure occurs when the systolic reading ranges from 120 to 129 mm Hg while the diastolic reading remains below 80 mm Hg.
Stage 1 hypertension is diagnosed when the systolic pressure is between 130 and 139 mm Hg or the diastolic pressure is between 80 and 89 mm Hg.
Stage 2 hypertension is defined as a systolic pressure of 140 mm Hg or higher, or a diastolic pressure of 90 mm Hg or higher. Blood pressure readings above 180/120 mm Hg are considered a hypertensive crisis and require immediate medical attention.
If left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to serious health complications, including heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney disease, and vision problems. For this reason, regular blood pressure monitoring is essential.
Adults are advised to check their blood pressure at least every two years starting from the age of 18, while individuals with increased risk factors may require more frequent monitoring.
Healthcare professionals emphasize that most hypertension-related complications are preventable through healthy lifestyle habits and proper treatment. Avoiding smoking, maintaining a balanced diet, reducing salt intake, engaging in regular physical activity, limiting alcohol consumption, and managing stress can all help prevent or control high blood pressure. In many cases, medication may also be necessary to maintain healthy blood pressure levels.
There are also several different forms of hypertension that can occur in specific situations.
For, example, white coat hypertension refers to high blood pressure readings in a medical setting while readings remain normal at home.
Masked hypertension is the opposite, where blood pressure appears normal during medical visits but is elevated at home. Sustained hypertension means blood pressure remains high consistently in all settings, while nocturnal hypertension occurs when blood pressure rises during sleep.
For most people, there is no single identifiable cause of hypertension. Instead, multiple risk factors may contribute to the condition. These include older age, family history of hypertension, smoking or tobacco use, obesity, excessive salt consumption, lack of physical activity, and high alcohol intake.
In some cases, however, high blood pressure may result from underlying medical conditions, medications, or substance use.
Conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea, thyroid disease, renal artery stenosis, and hormonal disorders can contribute to hypertension. Certain medications used to treat ADHD, inflammatory diseases, autoimmune disorders, and mental health conditions may also increase blood pressure. Additionally, substances such as nicotine, alcohol, and cocaine can significantly raise blood pressure levels.
World Hypertension Awareness Week serves as an important reminder that hypertension is both preventable and manageable. Through regular monitoring, healthier lifestyles, early diagnosis, and consistent treatment, millions of lives could be improved and potentially saved.
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Sources:
https://www.whleague.org/about-us/world-hypertension-day https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.121.18884#:%7E:text=The%20following%203%20goals%20should,treated%20hypertensive%20patients%20are%20controlled. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/symptoms-causes/syc-20373410 https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4314-hypertension-high-blood-pressure
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