Starting in 2007, even before that, WHO had remind its member countries to be vigilant on high blood pressure. The results of the organization’s monitoring shows that high blood pressure is on the rise in Africa, Asia, Australia and Europe. All over the world 40.6 per cent males and 35.8 per cent females above the age of 25 are suffering from high blood pressure. According to the data available, one billion plus are living with high blood pressure. Out of these, 9.4 million die an untimely death in Southeast Asia, one in three has blood pressure and more than 1.5 million people die every year as a result of this medical symptom.
WHO takes India as an example. Here in 1960 high blood pressure was five per cent and in 1990 it went up to 12 per cent and in 2008 it affected 32 per cent of the population. Bangladesh, Pakistan and the Philippines have also a similar trend while in America, according to American Heart Association, about one in three (33.5%) U.S. adults have high blood pressure.
Blood pressure is created by force of blood pushing against the walls of blood vessels (arteries) as it circulates through the body. High blood pressure or hypertension is a condition in which blood vessels have persistently raised pressure. Blood pressure is written as two numbers measured in millimetres of mercury-mm Hg, e.g. 120/80mmHg.
Blood pressure is measured as systolic (the first one) and diastolic (the 2nd one) pressures. “Systolic” refers to blood pressure when the heart beats while pumping blood. “Diastolic” refers to blood pressure when the heart is at rest between beats.
You are said to have high blood pressure (medically known as hypertension) if readings on separate occasions consistently show your blood pressure to be 140/90mmHg or higher.
Many people especially those with medical background believe that high blood pressure is principally preventable. What we should do is applying these following steps:
The intake food is the most important of all so you are suggested to eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day. Try to do at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day as long as maintaining health weight: body mass index (BMI) between 20 and 25. Do avoid alcohol intake and consuming tobacco.
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