World Hypertension Day: 17 May
- World Hypertension Day is celebrated every year on 17 May all over the world.
- Theme of World Hypertension Day 2024: Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, and Live Longer
- The primary objective of organizing this day is to create awareness among the common people regarding high blood pressure and encourage people to control it considering its seriousness.
History of World Hypertension Day
- This Day was started by the World Hypertension League (WHL) to raise awareness about high blood pressure.
- The first World Hypertension Day was launched by the WHL on May 14, 2005.
- Since 2006, May 17 is celebrated every year as World Hypertension Day.
- High blood pressure affects more than a billion people worldwide and is a leading cause of death, responsible for approximately 7.5 million deaths annually.
- World High Blood Pressure Day seeks to raise awareness about the prevalence of high blood pressure, its symptoms and the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle to combat it.
Importance
This day helps in educating people about the causes, symptoms and complications of high blood pressure. It also inspires to adopt a healthy lifestyle and get regular checkups done.
About high blood pressure or hypertension
- If the pressure of the blood flow is higher than normal, it puts additional stress on the wall of the arteries. This is called high blood pressure or hypertension.
- The main function of the heart is to purify blood for the flow of oxygen and energy to the body and a certain amount of pressure is required for blood to flow through the arteries.
- High blood pressure is a leading cause of premature death worldwide.
- High blood pressure is also called the “silent killer” because its symptoms are not visible. However, at severe levels, symptoms like headache, nose bleeding and difficulty in breathing may appear.
Click here to read this article in Hindi.
