United States: The World Health Organisation (WHO) report has stated that approximately 4 out of every 5 people with hypertension are not adequately treated. According to the analysis, through proper treatment, 76 million deaths could be averted between 2023 and 2050.
The WHO report on the global impact of high blood pressure further offers recommendations on ways to combat the “silent killer.” According to the report, hypertension affects 1 in 3 adults worldwide, and it commonly leads to a number of other health problems, including stroke, heart attack, heart failure, and kidney damage.
“Hypertension can be controlled effectively with simple, low-cost medication regimens, and yet only about one in five people with hypertension have controlled it,” Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO director-general, stated in a news release.
The WHO noted that high-performing countries like Canada and South Korea have delivered comprehensive national hypertension treatment programmes, and both nations have surpassed the 50 percent mark for blood pressure control in adults with hypertension.
“These preventative measures include eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding alcohol and tobacco, and exercising regularly. These strategies should be implemented in specific settings, like schools and the workplace, to further promote healthier lifestyle choices. Another method is lowering daily sodium intake,” the report remarked.
“Most heart attacks and strokes in the world today can be prevented with affordable, safe, accessible medicines and other interventions, such as sodium reduction,” Mr. Michael Bloomberg, former New York mayor and the WHO global ambassador for noncommunicable diseases and injuries, commented.
Recommended sodium intake varies from country to country, but the WHO recommends less than 2,000 milligrammes a day. According to the WHO, the estimated global average salt intake is more than twice that: 10.8 grammes per day.
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