The Global Challenge of High Blood Pressure: A Plan for Action

• Health

The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a bold initiative to tackle a silent but deadly global health menace: hypertension. This condition, characterized by abnormally high blood pressure, currently affects one in every three adults worldwide, a staggering 1.3 billion people.

"Hypertension is neither a mystery nor a shock; the condition is well understood, and affordable drugs treat it. But as the new plan proposes, it has not been taken seriously enough." – Gene Bukhman, Harvard Medical School.

Understanding Hypertension

Hypertension is more than just high blood pressure. It is a severe escalation, where the pressure inside arteries during and between heartbeats rises dangerously high. An ideal blood pressure is considered to be around 120/80 mmHg. However, when the first figure exceeds 140 or the second surpasses 90, someone enters the realm of hypertension. This extreme pressure can damage arteries, restrict the oxygen supply to the heart, and trigger serious health issues like heart attacks, kidney disease, and stroke.

The Global Impact

Contrary to common misconception, hypertension is not just a disease of the affluent or developed nations. According to the WHO, as much as three-fourths of those with hypertension reside in low- and middle-income countries. Alarmingly, nearly half of these individuals are unaware of their condition, and four-fifths of them are not receiving adequate treatment to manage it.

A Plan of Action

The WHO's plan to combat hypertension is comprehensive. It calls for governments worldwide to prioritize hypertension control, emphasizing the need for healthcare systems to focus on this issue. The plan also advocates for standardized protocols for diagnosis and treatment, the organization of outreach workers and paraprofessionals to expand the workforce dealing with the problem, and standards for purchasing necessary medications. Furthermore, the plan underscores the importance of creating robust data systems to track patients and treatments.

The Cost of Neglect

Ignoring hypertension carries a heavy economic toll. Over one-third of deaths from hypertension occur in individuals under 70, resulting in a significant loss of income for families and a reduction in a country's GDP. The WHO estimates that every dollar spent on hypertension control could yield $18 in future savings. This reveals that addressing hypertension is a health imperative and an economic investment.

Time for Change

As the world emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic, addressing hypertension might seem like an overwhelming task. Yet, it must not be overlooked. Unlike Covid-19, hypertension is not a new or mysterious disease. It is a well-understood condition with affordable treatments available. What is needed now is a global commitment to take this health issue seriously and implement the necessary changes to save millions of lives.