Hypertension Cases: Today, a large population of the world is suffering from the problem of hypertension. Let us tell you what the World Health Organization has reported on this issue.

Global Hypertension Cases Surge: According to the latest report from the World Health Organization (WHO), cases of hypertension are rapidly increasing worldwide. Currently, approximately 1.4 billion people worldwide suffer from this disease. Surprisingly, only 20 percent of these individuals are able to control their blood pressure, while the rest either lack access to treatment or are unaware they have the condition.

According to a WHO report, hypertension has become a major cause of death. This disease claims millions of lives every year. The report states that every hour, more than 1,000 people worldwide die from diseases like stroke and heart attack, the main cause of which is high blood pressure. If hypertension is treated promptly and appropriately, approximately 76 million deaths could be prevented between 2023 and 2050.

Reasons for the increase in hypertension

• Unhealthy eating habits, consumption of excess salt, and processed food.
• Lack of physical activity, not exercising.
• Smoking and alcohol consumption.
• Stress and irregular lifestyle.
• Lack of awareness – More than half of the people do not even know that they have hypertension.

health impact

Hypertension is often called a "silent killer" because it slowly damages many organs in the body. Chronically elevated blood pressure can:

• The risk of heart disease and heart failure increases.
• Stroke, i.e., brain hemorrhage or blockage, may occur.
• There may be a problem of kidney failure.
• The risk of dementia and other neurological diseases increases.

Economic and social burden

The report states that low- and middle-income countries are projected to suffer economic losses of approximately US$3.7 trillion between 2011 and 2025 due to heart and blood pressure-related diseases. This represents approximately 2 percent of these countries' total GDP.

What is the solution?

The WHO recommends several steps to combat hypertension:

• Strengthening primary health services and providing facilities for regular blood pressure checkups.
• Ensuring affordable and accessible availability of WHO recommended medicines.
• To increase awareness among people so that they remain cautious about their health.
• Adopting a healthy lifestyle – reducing salt intake, exercising, avoiding smoking and alcohol, and reducing stress.

Hypertension is a treatable and controllable disease. However, if ignored, it could claim millions of lives worldwide in the coming years. The WHO report clearly indicates that governments and society must work together to combat this problem. Regular screening, awareness, and timely treatment can save millions of lives.