High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is one of the biggest causes of heart disease and stroke. These health problems take millions of lives each year around the world.
Even though there are good treatments available, many people with high blood pressure do not get the care they need. A new study shows that a simple plan could help save millions of lives if used around the world.
Researchers from the University of Washington and other institutions looked at how well countries are managing high blood pressure. They found that only about 1 in 5 people with hypertension are able to keep their blood pressure at a healthy level with medication.
This means most people with the condition are at high risk of serious problems like heart attacks and strokes.
There are many reasons why high blood pressure isn’t well controlled. In some places, people can’t easily see a doctor or get the medicine they need.
In other cases, people don’t know they have high blood pressure because it usually doesn’t have clear symptoms. Some people may not take it seriously, and some governments may not do enough to make treatment easy to get.
To fix this, the researchers suggest a simple target called the 80-80-80 goal. It means that 80% of adults should get tested for high blood pressure. Of those who are diagnosed, 80% should get treatment. And of those receiving treatment, 80% should bring their blood pressure down to a safe level.
Using a computer model, the scientists estimated that if the world reached this 80-80-80 goal, between 76 million and 130 million lives could be saved. This number doesn’t even count the people who would avoid hospital visits, disability, or suffering from strokes and other heart problems.
The researchers believe that most countries could achieve this goal. They say it would be one of the biggest wins for public health in the next few decades.
High blood pressure is dangerous, but it often goes unnoticed. By making sure more people are tested, treated, and able to manage their condition, the world could prevent millions of deaths and help people live longer, healthier lives.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and coconut sugar could help reduce blood pressure and artery stiffness.
For more information about blood pressure, please see recent studies about added sugar in your diet linked to higher blood pressure, and results showing plant-based foods could benefit people with high blood pressure.
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