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Worrying rise in hypertension
17 August 2007 16:15:36
With hypertension known to cause heart disease, stroke and renal failure, the Lancet has warned that relaxed attitudes are jeopardising the lives of millions of people.
"Lifestyle factors such as physical inactivity, a salt-rich diet with high processed and fatty foods, and alcohol and tobacco use are at the heart of this increased disease burden which is spreading at an alarming rate from developed countries to emerging economies, such as India and China," the journal's editorial stated.
Some 972 million people worldwide were estimated to suffer from high blood pressure in the year 2000; this figure is expected to spiral to 1.56 billion by 2015.
The Lancet added that many people mistakenly believe that hypertension is an easily resolved situation and complacently reduce their intake of medication once they notice a fall in their blood pressure levels.
Judy O'Sullivan, cardiac nurse for the British Heart Foundation, commented: "Unfortunately people are often unaware of having high blood pressure until it is picked up during a routine assessment."
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