World Hypertension Day

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World Hypertension Day (WHD) is a day designated and initiated by The World Hypertension League (WHL), which is itself an umbrella to organizations of 85 national hypertension societies and leagues. The day was initiated to increase the awareness of hypertension. This was especially important because of the lack of appropriate knowledge among hypertensive patients. [1] The WHL launched its first WHD on May 14, 2005. Since 2006, the WHL has been dedicating May 17 of every year as WHD. [2]

In 2005, as the inaugural effort, the theme was simply "Awareness of high blood pressure". [3] The 2006 theme was "Treat to goal", with a focus on keeping blood pressure under control. [1] The recommended blood pressures are less than 140/90 mmHg for the general population and for the hypertensive population without any other complications, and less than 130/80 mmHg for those with diabetes mellitus or chronic kidney disease. These are the cut-off values recommended by international and Canadian guidelines. [4] [5] The 2007 WHD theme was "Healthy diet, healthy blood pressure". Through such specific themes, the WHL intends to raise awareness not only of hypertension, but also of factors contributing to an increase in the incidence of hypertension and on ways to prevent it. [1] In an effort to empower the public, the theme for 2008 was "Measure your blood pressure…at home". Recent reports confirm the ease, accuracy and safety of blood pressure measurements using home monitors. [6] [7] [8]

For the five-year period 2013-2018, the theme of WHD was "Know Your Numbers" with the goal of increasing high blood pressure awareness in all populations around the world. [9]

Related Research Articles

Cardiology Branch of medicine dealing with the heart

Cardiology is a branch of medicine that deals with the disorders of the heart as well as some parts of the circulatory system. The field includes medical diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology. Physicians who specialize in this field of medicine are called cardiologists, a specialty of internal medicine. Pediatric cardiologists are pediatricians who specialize in cardiology. Physicians who specialize in cardiac surgery are called cardiothoracic surgeons or cardiac surgeons, a specialty of general surgery.

Blood pressure Pressure exerted by circulating blood upon the walls of blood vessels

Blood pressure (BP) is the pressure of circulating blood against the walls of blood vessels. Most of this pressure results from the heart pumping blood through the circulatory system. When used without qualification, the term "blood pressure" refers to the pressure in the large arteries. Blood pressure is usually expressed in terms of the systolic pressure over diastolic pressure in the cardiac cycle. It is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) above the surrounding atmospheric pressure.

Hypertension Long term high blood pressure in the arteries

Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure (HBP), is a long-term medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is persistently elevated. High blood pressure typically does not cause symptoms. Long-term high blood pressure, however, is a major risk factor for stroke, coronary artery disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, peripheral arterial disease, vision loss, chronic kidney disease, and dementia.

Sphygmomanometer Instrument for measuring blood pressure

A sphygmomanometer, also known as a blood pressure monitor, or blood pressure gauge, is a device used to measure blood pressure, composed of an inflatable cuff to collapse and then release the artery under the cuff in a controlled manner, and a mercury or aneroid manometer to measure the pressure. Manual sphygmomanometers are used with a stethoscope when using the auscultatory technique.

Hypotension Abnormally low blood pressure

Hypotension is low blood pressure. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps out blood. Blood pressure is indicated by two numbers, the systolic blood pressure and the diastolic blood pressure, which are the maximum and minimum blood pressures, respectively. A systolic blood pressure of less than 90 millimeters of mercury or diastolic of less than 60 mm Hg is generally considered to be hypotension. Different numbers apply to children. However, in practice, blood pressure is considered too low only if noticeable symptoms are present.

Antihypertensives are a class of drugs that are used to treat hypertension. Antihypertensive therapy seeks to prevent the complications of high blood pressure, such as stroke and myocardial infarction. Evidence suggests that reduction of the blood pressure by 5 mmHg can decrease the risk of stroke by 34%, of ischaemic heart disease by 21%, and reduce the likelihood of dementia, heart failure, and mortality from cardiovascular disease. There are many classes of antihypertensives, which lower blood pressure by different means. Among the most important and most widely used medications are thiazide diuretics, calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor antagonists (ARBs), and beta blockers.

White coat hypertension Medical condition

White coat hypertension (WHT), more commonly known as white coat syndrome, is a form of labile hypertension in which people exhibit a blood pressure level above the normal range, in a clinical setting, although they do not exhibit it in other settings. It is believed that the phenomenon is due to anxiety experienced during a clinic visit.

Hypertensive emergency Condition of markedly elevated blood pressure with diastolic pressure typically greater than 120 mm Hg

A hypertensive emergency is very high blood pressure with potentially life-threatening symptoms and signs of acute damage to one or more organ systems. It is different from a hypertensive urgency by this additional evidence for impending irreversible hypertension-mediated organ damage (HMOD). Blood pressure is often above 200/120 mmHg, however there are no universally accepted cutoff values. Signs of organ damage will be discussed below.

Hypertensive heart disease Medical condition

Hypertensive heart disease includes a number of complications of high blood pressure that affect the heart. While there are several definitions of hypertensive heart disease in the medical literature, the term is most widely used in the context of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) coding categories. The definition includes heart failure and other cardiac complications of hypertension when a causal relationship between the heart disease and hypertension is stated or implied on the death certificate. In 2013 hypertensive heart disease resulted in 1.07 million deaths as compared with 630,000 deaths in 1990.

Nebivolol

Nebivolol is a beta blocker used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure. As with other β-blockers, it is generally a less preferred treatment for high blood pressure. It may be used by itself or with other blood pressure medication. It is taken by mouth.

Hypertensive encephalopathy (HE) is general brain dysfunction due to significantly high blood pressure. Symptoms may include headache, vomiting, trouble with balance, and confusion. Onset is generally sudden. Complications can include seizures, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, and bleeding in the back of the eye.

Prehypertension, also known as high normal blood pressure and borderline hypertensive (BH), is an American medical classification for cases where a person's blood pressure is elevated above normal, but not to the level considered hypertension. Prehypertension is blood pressure readings with a systolic pressure from 120 to 139 mm Hg or a diastolic pressure from 80 to 89 mm Hg. Readings greater than or equal to 140/90 mm Hg are considered hypertension. Classification of blood pressure is based upon two or more readings at two or more separate occasions separated by at least one week. The seventh report of the Joint National Committee proposed the new labeling for elevated blood pressure values below 140/90 to more accurately communicate the tendency of blood pressure to rise with age.

Cilnidipine

Cilnidipine is a calcium channel blocker. Cilnidipine is approved for use in Japan, China, India, Nepal, Korea, and some European countries to treat hypertension.

Complications of hypertension

Complications of hypertension are clinical outcomes that result from persistent elevation of blood pressure. Hypertension is a risk factor for all clinical manifestations of atherosclerosis since it is a risk factor for atherosclerosis itself. It is an independent predisposing factor for heart failure, coronary artery disease, stroke, kidney disease, and peripheral arterial disease. It is the most important risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, in industrialized countries.

Orthostatic hypertension is a medical condition consisting of a sudden and abrupt increase in blood pressure (BP) when a person stands up. Orthostatic hypertension is diagnosed by a rise in systolic BP of 20 mmHg or more when standing. Orthostatic diastolic hypertension is a condition in which the diastolic BP raises to 98 mmHg or over in response to standing, but this definition currently lacks clear medical consensus, so is subject to change. Orthostatic hypertension involving the systolic BP is known as systolic orthostatic hypertension.

Renal sympathetic denervation (RSDN), is a minimally invasive, endovascular catheter based procedure using radiofrequency ablation or ultrasound ablation aimed at treating resistant hypertension. Nerves in the wall of the renal artery are ablated by applying radiofrequency pulses or ultrasound to the renal arteries. This causes reduction of sympathetic afferent and efferent activity to the kidney and blood pressure can be decreased. Early data from international clinical trials without sham controls was promising - demonstrating large blood pressure reductions in patients with treatment-resistant hypertension. However, in 2014 a prospective, single-blind, randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial failed to confirm a beneficial effect on blood pressure. A 2014 consensus statement from The Joint UK Societies did not recommend the use of renal denervation for treatment of resistant hypertension on current evidence.

Blood pressure measurement

Arterial blood pressure is most commonly measured via a sphygmomanometer, which historically used the height of a column of mercury to reflect the circulating pressure. Blood pressure values are generally reported in millimetres of mercury (mmHg), though aneroid and electronic devices do not contain mercury.

AFIB Technology is a feature in sphygmomanometer devices that is designed to detect and monitor the incidence of atrial fibrillation in patients. The technology was designed, patented, and is currently used by the Microlife Corporation. It has been the subject of numerous medical studies and has been validated for in-home and clinical use. It can be found in several Microlife devices, including the WatchBP Home A, BP A200 Plus, WatchBP Office, and WatchBP O3.

Hypertension is managed using lifestyle modification and antihypertensive medications. Hypertension is usually treated to achieve a blood pressure of below 140/90 mmHg to 160/100 mmHg. According to one 2003 review, reduction of the blood pressure by 5 mmHg can decrease the risk of stroke by 34%, of ischaemic heart disease by 21%, and reduce the likelihood of dementia, heart failure, and mortality from cardiovascular disease.

Refractory Hypertension, also known as a refractory hypertensive state, RfHTN, or status angiotensus, is a hypertensive condition which can occur, for no apparent reason, in patients with previously well-managed hypertension. Refractory hypertension is characterized by a blood pressure that remains uncontrolled on maximal or near-maximal therapy, which is the use of ≥5 antihypertensive agents of different classes, including a long-acting thiazide-like diuretic and spironolactone. Patients with refractory hypertension typically exhibit increased sympathetic nervous system activity. The phenotype of refractory hypertension was first proposed in a retrospective analysis of patients referred to the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hypertension Clinic whose blood pressure could not be controlled on any antihypertensive regimen.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Chockalingam A (May 2007). "Impact of World Hypertension Day". The Canadian Journal of Cardiology . 23 (7): 517–9. doi:10.1016/S0828-282X(07)70795-X. PMC   2650754 . PMID   17534457.
  2. ↑ Chockalingam A (June 2008). "World Hypertension Day and global awareness". The Canadian Journal of Cardiology . 24 (6): 441–4. doi:10.1016/S0828-282X(08)70617-2. PMC   2643187 . PMID   18548140.
  3. ↑ "World Hypertension Day 2021:Date,Theme,History,Prevention,Significance". S A NEWS. 2021-05-17. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  4. ↑ Campbell NR, Petrella R, Kaczorowski J (May 2006). "Public education on hypertension: a new initiative to improve the prevention, treatment and control of hypertension in Canada". The Canadian Journal of Cardiology . 22 (7): 599–603. doi:10.1016/s0828-282x(06)70282-3. PMC   2560867 . PMID   16755315.
  5. ↑ Hemmelgarn BR, McAlister FA, Grover S, et al. (May 2006). "The 2006 Canadian Hypertension Education Program recommendations for the management of hypertension: Part I--Blood pressure measurement, diagnosis and assessment of risk". The Canadian Journal of Cardiology . 22 (7): 573–81. doi:10.1016/S0828-282X(06)70279-3. PMC   2560864 . PMID   16755312.
  6. ↑ McKay DW, Godwin M, Chockalingam A (May 2007). "Practical advice for home blood pressure measurement". The Canadian Journal of Cardiology . 23 (7): 577–80. doi:10.1016/s0828-282x(07)70804-8. PMC   2650763 . PMID   17534466.
  7. ↑ Stergiou GS, Skeva II, Zourbaki AS, Mountokalakis TD (June 1998). "Self-monitoring of blood pressure at home: how many measurements are needed?". Journal of Hypertension . 16 (6): 725–31. doi:10.1097/00004872-199816060-00002. PMID   9663911. S2CID   19565118.
  8. ↑ Stergiou GS, Skeva II, Baibas NM, Kalkana CB, Roussias LG, Mountokalakis TD (December 2000). "Diagnosis of hypertension using home or ambulatory blood pressure monitoring: comparison with the conventional strategy based on repeated clinic blood pressure measurements". Journal of Hypertension . 18 (12): 1745–51. doi:10.1097/00004872-200018120-00007. PMID   11132597.
  9. ↑ International Society of Hypertension (ISH)
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