Every year, World Hypertension Day is celebrated on the17th of May. The day is dedicated to a global health burden- hypertension also commonly known as high blood pressure. At present, the incidences of hypertension to range from 20 to 40% in urban areas and 12 to 17% in rural areas of India and about one in three Indian adults have high blood pressure. The day aims at raising awareness and promoting hypertension prevention, detection and treatment. Cardiovascular diseases are one of the greatest risk factors involved with hypertension and therefore it is important that awareness is raised about the health issue. Hypertension can lead to severe health complications and increases the risk of stroke, heart disease, and death which makes it one of top non-communicable, fatal diseases. In simple terms, blood pressure is the force exerted by the blood against the walls of the blood vessels, if it increases, you are at risk of several other health issues. Menopausal Women Who Lose Teeth Are At Risk of Hypertension, Says Study.

World Hypertension Day Theme

2019 World Hypertension day theme is "Know your numbers." The theme aims at increasing awareness regarding the importance of knowing what your blood pressure measurements are. Most people never get their BP checked which causes the late diagnosis of the health concern.  Some of the past themes were: In 2005 that was the inaugural year the theme was ‘Awareness of high blood pressure’. In 2006 the theme was ‘Treat to goal’, with an aim of keeping blood pressure under control. The 2007 WHD theme was ‘Healthy diet, healthy blood pressure’. 2008 was ‘Measure your blood pressure…at home’.

World Hypertension Day Significance

The major aim of World Hypertension Day is to spread awareness about high blood pressure and its impacts on overall health. It also encompasses the goal to improve the prevention and control of high blood pressure. Diagnosis is another important aspect of the aims of this day. To raise awareness, promote hypertension prevention, treatment and control are some of the important issues that conclude the reason this day is observed. World Hypertension League (WHL) is an organisation of 85 national hypertension societies and leagues who started this day and the aim of this organisation is to improve awareness among hypertensive patients.

Cases of Cardiovascular diseases are only increasing and high blood pressure is one of the main risk factors to cause cardiovascular disease.

 

 

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 16, 2019 06:52 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).