High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a serious health problem that affects many people around the world. It’s one of the main causes of heart disease, which leads to many deaths every day. Even though we have medicines and treatments that can help control blood pressure, many people with hypertension are still not getting the help they need.
A new study from the University of Washington and other groups looked at this problem. The researchers wanted to understand why so many people with high blood pressure are not being treated.
They found that only about one in five people with hypertension are successfully controlling it with medicine. This means that most people with this condition are still at risk of serious health problems.
There are many reasons for this. In some countries, especially poorer ones, there aren’t enough hospitals or doctors. This makes it hard for people to get tested or treated. Some people don’t even know they have high blood pressure, or they don’t realize how dangerous it can be.
Others might stop taking their medicine or never start at all. Governments and health systems in many places also haven’t done enough to fight this issue.
To help solve the problem, the researchers came up with a new plan called the 80-80-80 target. This plan has three main goals. First, 80% of people in an area should get tested for high blood pressure. Second, of those who are diagnosed, 80% should get treatment. Third, among those treated, 80% should have their blood pressure brought down to a safe level.
The researchers used computer models to see what would happen if the whole world followed this 80-80-80 plan. They found that it could save between 76 and 130 million lives. That’s a huge number and shows how powerful this plan could be if it were put into action.
This plan would also help prevent a lot of heart disease, strokes, and other serious health problems. It would mean fewer people getting sick and fewer families suffering. The researchers say that all countries, rich or poor, should try to reach this goal. With teamwork from governments, doctors, and communities, they believe it’s possible.
People can also take steps to manage their own blood pressure. Some foods, like black licorice, can raise blood pressure to dangerous levels. On the other hand, some plant-based nutrients may help lower it. Eating healthy, getting exercise, and avoiding too much salt can also make a big difference.
This research, published in Nature Medicine and led by Sarah J. Pickersgill and her team, shows that we need a worldwide plan to fight high blood pressure. If countries adopt the 80-80-80 goal, it could lead to one of the biggest health improvements of our time.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and natural coconut sugar could help reduce blood pressure and artery stiffness.
For more health information, please see recent studies about added sugar in your diet linked to higher blood pressure, and results showing vitamin D could improve blood pressure in people with diabetes.
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