High blood pressure affects more than 1 billion people worldwide, and that number is increasing. Untreated or uncontrolled, hypertension is the single largest contributor to cardiovascular disease, causing stroke, heart failure, and coronary artery disease, and also is a major contributor to kidney disease .
How does hypertension affect the society?
Having hypertension puts you at risk for heart disease and stroke , which are leading causes of death in the United States. In 2019, more than half a million deaths in the United States had hypertension as a primary or contributing cause.
What hypertension causes?
What causes high blood pressure? High blood pressure usually develops over time. It can happen because of unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as not getting enough regular physical activity . Certain health conditions, such as diabetes and having obesity, can also increase the risk for developing high blood pressure.
Is hypertension A cardiovascular disease?
High blood pressure is not heart disease on its own. However, having high blood pressure can lead to cardiovascular complications and can weaken or damage your heart. Hypertension is one cause of cardiovascular disease —a term that encompasses the heart and blood vessels.
What is the global impact of hypertension high blood pressure on public health?
High blood pressure is a global public health problem. It is one of the major causes of premature death worldwide, killing nearly 8 million people every year , and the problem is growing. Over 1 billion people are living with high blood pressure.
How does hypertension affect daily life?
Nearly half of the people living with untreated hypertension die of heart disease related to poor blood flow, while another third die of stroke. Add in aneurysms, damaged arteries, and enlarged hearts, and the consequences of high blood pressure can be severe and life-threatening.
How does hypertension affect the economy?
High blood pressure costs the nation about $131 to $198 billion each year . This total includes the cost of health care services, medications to treat high blood pressure, and loss of productivity from premature death.
What are 5 causes of high blood pressure?
- Age. The risk of high blood pressure increases as you age. ...
- Race. ...
- Family history. ...
- Being overweight or obese. ...
- Not being physically active. ...
- Using tobacco. ...
- Too much salt (sodium) in your diet. ...
- Too little potassium in your diet.
What happens in the body when you have hypertension?
High blood pressure forces the heart to work harder to pump blood to the rest of the body . This causes the lower left heart chamber (left ventricle) to thicken. A thickened left ventricle increases the risk of heart attack, heart failure and sudden cardiac death. Heart failure.
What are the preventions of hypertension?
High blood pressure can often be prevented or reduced by eating healthily, maintaining a healthy weight, taking regular exercise, drinking alcohol in moderation and not smoking .
Why is hypertension a major risk factor for heart disease?
High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease. It is a medical condition that happens when the pressure of the blood in your arteries and other blood vessels is too high . The high pressure, if not controlled, can affect your heart and other major organs of your body, including your kidneys and brain.
What is the connection between hypertension and heart disease?
High blood pressure also leads to thickening of the blood vessel walls. When combined with cholesterol deposits in the blood vessels, the risk of heart attack and stroke increases. Hypertensive heart disease is the leading cause of illness and death from high blood pressure .
Who is at risk of hypertension?
The risk factors for high blood pressure include poor diet (particularly a high salt intake), obesity, excessive alcohol consumption and insufficient physical activity . High blood pressure can be controlled with lifestyle measures and medication to reduce the risk of chronic disease.
How does hypertension affect your ability to work?
Uncontrolled high blood pressure, or hypertension, can wreak havoc on your body as well as your ability to sleep, concentrate, and deal with stress. While it can have a profound effect on your ability to work , it is not typically enough to qualify for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits on its own.
What is target organ damage in hypertension?
Chronic exposure to high BP leads to damage of target organs, such as heart, kidney, and brain . In populations with high cardiovascular risk, this damage of target organs might better represent exposure to high BP than the BP measurement itself because of antihypertensive treatment effects and cardiovascular aging. 5 .
What is the global burden of hypertension?
Globally, an estimated 26% of the world’s population (972 million people) has hypertension , and the prevalence is expected to increase to 29% by 2025, driven largely by increases in economically developing nations. The high prevalence of hypertension exacts a tremendous public health burden.
How does hypertension affect the family?
A family history of high blood pressure has been linked to other risk factors for heart disease and stroke . These factors include high cholesterol, high body fat, and being more sensitive to the effects of salt on raising blood pressure.
How much does high blood pressure cost employers?
HIgh blood pressure costs U.S. employers around $518 per year, per employee . High blood pressure is a major risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease costs employers an extra $1,100 each year in lost productivity.
What are the 4 stages of hypertension?
Doctors classify blood pressure into four categories: normal, prehypertension (mild), stage 1 (moderate) and stage 2 (severe) . Treatment depends on which category your pressure consistently falls in when readings are taken.
Is high blood pressure genetic?
Hypertension tends to run in families . Individuals whose parents have hypertension have an elevated risk of developing the condition, particularly if both parents are affected. However, the inheritance pattern is unknown. Rare, genetic forms of hypertension follow the inheritance pattern of the individual condition.
