Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: TH
Context: The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its first-ever report on the global impact of high blood pressure (hypertension).
- The report highlights that approximately four out of every five people with hypertension are not receiving adequate treatment.
However, if countries can expand their coverage of hypertension treatment, it could potentially avert 76 million deaths between 2023 and 2050.
Statistics on Hypertension:
- Hypertension is a significant risk factor for death and disability in India, with less than one-fourth of hypertensive patients having their blood pressure under control during 2016–2020. The prevalence of hypertension in India has increased, with 24% of men and 21% of women reported to have hypertension in the 2019–2020 National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5).
- The number of people living with hypertension doubled from 650 million in 1990 to 1.3 billion in 2019, with nearly half of them unaware of their condition. Over three-quarters of adults with hypertension live in low- and middle-income countries.
- The WHO recommends lifestyle changes, such as a healthier diet, tobacco cessation, and increased physical activity, as ways to lower blood pressure.
