Hypertension remains one of the leading causes of death but is also one of the most neglected diseases. Find out why.
Hypertension, also referred as high blood pressure, is a condition in which the arteries have persistent elevated blood pressure. Every time the human heart beats, it pumps blood to the whole body through the arteries. According to CDC estimates, more than 67 million Americans, accounting for 31 percent of the country's population suffer from this condition. Medical costs for this condition add up to $47.5 billion each year. The death rates are even more alarming. Despite these statistics, hypertension remains one of the most neglected diseases.
One major reason behind this is that people are not aware their blood pressure is high. According to an American Heart Association report, nearly 20 percent of people with this condition are not aware of it. And even if they are, only half of them have their condition under control.
This is probably why the theme for World Hypertension Day, which fell on May 17 this year, has been "Know Your Blood Pressure" for a couple of years and will remain the same over the next five years.
Another reason why hypertension remains one of the most neglected diseases is because it frequently occurs without any sign or symptom, according to Mayo Clinic. This leads to people being unaware of their conditions and subsequently not getting proper medical attention for it.
For most adults, there's no identifiable cause of high blood pressure. This type of high blood pressure, called essential hypertension or primary hypertension, tends to develop gradually over many years. Some people have high blood pressure caused by an underlying condition. This type of high blood pressure, called secondary hypertension, tends to appear suddenly and causes higher blood pressure than primary hypertension.
Various conditions and medications can lead to secondary hypertension, including kidney problems, adrenal gland tumors, thyroid problems, certain defects in blood vessels you're born with (congenital), illegal drugs usage, alcohol use and obstructive sleep apnea. Certain medications, such as birth control pills, cold remedies, decongestants, over-the-counter pain relievers and some prescription drugs can also cause high blood pressure, according to a Web MD report.
Previously, it was believed that this condition was most prevalent among adults. However, recent studies have highlighted that the number of children with high blood pressure is on the rise. What's unfortunate is that many parents are not aware that their children have this condition. A 2012 study by University of Michigan researchers highlighted that hypertension among U.S. kids more than doubled between 1997 and 2006. Another 2013 study found that the risk for high blood pressure in American teens and children increased 27 percent over the last 13 years.
Hypertension is the leading cause of death and morbidity in adults. It is a major cause of strokes, heart attacks and heart failures and all these are extreme life-changing events. High blood pressure is a common cause of "lost days" at work too.
