Source :NEWS18 NEWS
Last Updated:May 17, 2025, 07:00 IST
World Hypertension Day 2025: According to WHO, hypertension affects over one billion people globally and is responsible for more than 7.5 million deaths each year.
World Hypertension Day 2025: The theme for this year is “Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer!” (AI generated image)
World Hypertension Day 2025: Every year on May 17, World Hypertension Day is observed to raise awareness of the condition as a public health concern. By focusing more on studying the causes and risk factors of hypertension, the day also seeks to increase our understanding of the condition. It also highlights how lifestyle changes and other options can effectively control the medical condition.
What Is Hypertension?
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High blood pressure, also referred to as hypertension, is a serious condition that occurs when our blood vessels are under excessive pressure (140/90 mmHg or higher). It must be addressed right away since, if ignored, it can progress to more serious and deadly conditions like heart disease, a heart attack, or a stroke.
Those who are elderly, have sedentary lives, have type 2 diabetes or obesity, consume a lot of salt, or drink excessively are more likely to have hypertension. It can also strike younger people due to stress or other factors.
World Hypertension Day 2025: Theme
This year’s World Hypertension Day theme, chosen by the World Hypertension League (WHL), is “Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer!” It was chosen to raise awareness about high blood pressure and improve blood pressure measurement accuracy, particularly in low- and middle-income areas.
World Hypertension Day 2025: History And Significance
The World Hypertension League (WHL) created World Hypertension Day to increase public awareness of hypertension. They established the first World Hypertension Day on May 14, 2005. Since then, World Hypertension Day has been observed on May 17 every year.
According to estimates from the World Health Organisation (WHO), hypertension kills more than 7.5 million people annually and affects over a billion people worldwide. Due to a lack of knowledge regarding hypertension, many people are unable to identify its symptoms.
The purpose of World Hypertension Day is to raise awareness of the prevalence, signs, and preventative measures of hypertension. It also highlights how crucial maintaining a healthy lifestyle is to managing hypertension. Many lives can be saved by the early detection of excessive blood pressure.
World Hypertension Day 2025: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment
For the majority of people, hypertension usually shows no symptoms at all. However, people who have very high blood pressure (often 180/120 or more) could have the following symptoms: Excruciating headaches, Pain in the chest, Breathing issues, Lightheadedness, Anxiety, Confusion, Feeling queasy, Throwing up, Changes in vision, Bleeding noses and Unusual heartbeat.
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), high blood pressure usually appears gradually. It can be linked to bad lifestyle choices like poor eating habits and a lack of physical activity. Obesity and diabetes are two medical conditions that might increase the risk of high blood pressure. Pregnancy-related high blood pressure might occasionally also happen.
Making changes to one’s lifestyle can lower blood pressure and enhance general health. These adjustments can help everyone with hypertension, even though some people may still need medication.
How To Control Your Blood Pressure?
- It is important to keep blood pressure below 140/90 mmHg and to check it often. Blood pressure can be kept under control with a healthy lifestyle, a balanced diet, moderate exercise, and seven to nine hours of sleep each day.
- For those who have hypertension, stress management is essential. Stress-reduction methods like yoga, meditation, and deep breathing can be tried in conjunction with relaxing and winding down activities.
- Taking medication exactly as advised by your doctor, without skipping any doses.
- Treating any other conditions that the patient may have in addition to hypertension on a priority basis is also vital for a person’s well-being because they may exacerbate the illness.
Why You Should Regularly Monitor BP?
Blood pressure should be monitored regularly to detect and manage excessive blood pressure (hypertension), which is a main cause of serious health problems such as heart disease and stroke. It also aids in identifying underlying health disorders and assessing the effect of lifestyle factors on blood pressure. Here’s why frequent blood pressure monitoring is vital.
- High blood pressure rarely causes symptoms. Hence, constant monitoring is critical for early discovery and treatment.
- Abnormal blood pressure readings can indicate underlying health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, or kidney illness, allowing for prompt treatment.
- Regular monitoring provides insight into how lifestyle factors such as nutrition, exercise, and stress affect blood pressure, allowing people to make beneficial changes.
- Regular monitoring allows persons with hypertension to track the effectiveness of their medication and adjust it as needed.
- By tracking blood pressure, people may better manage their health and make educated decisions with their doctors.
- Regular monitoring might provide a greater sense of control over one’s health, thereby pushing people to adopt healthier lifestyles.
- Home monitoring enables the discovery of patterns and triggers that can alter blood pressure measurements.
‘Hypertension Often Shows No Symptoms — Track Your BP Regularly’
According to Dr. Parin Sangoi, Consultant – Interventional Cardiologist at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai Central: “Hypertension is one of the leading causes of heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure — and it often presents with no symptoms until significant damage has occurred.”
He emphasizes that regular blood pressure monitoring is crucial for early detection. When identified early, hypertension can be effectively managed through lifestyle changes and medication, significantly reducing the risk of long-term complications.
“Measuring your blood pressure routinely is a simple but powerful step toward preventing serious health issues,” adds Dr. Sangoi.
- First Published:
May 17, 2025, 07:00 IST
SOURCE : NEWS 18
