World Hypertension Day (WHD) is celebrated annually on May 17 which was initiated by the World Hypertension League. The World Hypertension Day (WHD) aims to raise public awareness about hypertension and empower people of all countries to avoid and monitor the modern epidemic, as well as spread knowledge about its complications. The theme for the past years was Know Your Numbers with the aim of raising awareness of high blood pressure (BP).
What are the symptoms of Hypertension?
Hypertension does not have any specific depictive symptoms, nonetheless it damages the body functioning further causing heart diseases and stoke. People of all age groups may develop the condition, although the risk increases with age.
Hypertension increases the risk of chronic conditions including stroke, myocardial infarction, neurological & kidney disorders. Stroke is one of the leading causes of mortality, along with cardio vascular diseases and is also the number one cause of chronic disabilities in the world. The condition does not have any obvious symptoms to indicate that something is wrong, hence a lot of times the condition goes unnoticed. Individuals with hypertension can live for years without experiencing any symptoms or health issues, causing it to be a silent killer.
Avoid smoking and drinking
Drinking too much alcohol can elevate your blood pressure to unhealthy levels. Each cigarette you smoke temporarily increases your blood pressure for many minutes after you finish. So, you must avoid smoking and drinking to manage hypertension.
Blood pressure measurement and the determination of basic laboratory parameters are part of the screening program in preventive medical checkups. Regular checkups are an important tool for detecting potentially life threatening health issues early before they cause problems.