World Hypertension Day: Level up Your Awareness, not BP

• Written by Nidhi Goyal

  Reviewed by Akhil Pillai

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Hypertension is “the silent killer,”often presents without symptoms. This makes it the leading global risk factor for death, affecting over 1 billion people. Approximately half of all stroke- and heart-related deaths are caused by hypertension. World Hypertension Day is observed to raise awareness of hypertension, a life-threatening condition.

What is Hypertension Day?

World Hypertension Day is observed annually  on May 17th, aiming to educate people and raise awareness of hypertension, commonly referred to as high blood pressure. 

Hypertension is among the major causes of a varied range of health problems like heart attacks, strokes and kidney-related illnesses. It may also lead to the development of dementia. Most people suffering from it are not aware till they suffer from a heart attack or a stroke.

World Hypertension Day is organised by the World Hypertension League (WHL), a global non-governmental and not-for-profit organisation aiming to prevent and control hypertension worldwide. The World Hypertension League is an umbrella organisation comprising  80 national hypertension societies with regional offices in North America, South America, South East Asia, China, the Middle East, the South Pacific, Eastern Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa. 

WHL has declared “Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer” as the World Hypertension Day theme for 2025. The objective is to promote higher levels of awareness of high blood pressure and accurate blood pressure measurement, aiming to control Noncommunicable Diseases (NCBs) caused by hypertension, especially in low and middle-income groups.

Actions Taken on World Hypertension Day 2025

World Hypertension Day (WHD) promotes regular and accurate blood pressure measurement. The primary focus is on low- to middle-income areas with limited awareness and resources.

To support WHD, World Hypertension League (WHL) members and partners are encouraged to participate through the following:

• Community events
• Media releases
• Blood pressure screenings
• Calls to action
• Global awareness campaigns
• Activities like BP screenings and education on lifestyle changes, such as limiting salt intake, are promoted.

These efforts aim to reduce the risk of stroke, cardiovascular diseases, and kidney diseases.

Understanding Hypertension

Blood pressure is measured in units of millimeters of mercury (mmHg). An ideal blood pressure reading is approximately 120/80 mmHg.

While the exact cause of hypertension is often unknown, it can be triggered by various factors, including genetics, specific medical conditions, and age. Hypertension is also considered a lifestyle disease, often caused by a sedentary lifestyle with minimal exercise, unhealthy eating habits, and detrimental habits such as smoking and alcohol consumption.

Stages of Hypertension

When your blood pressure readings are consistently getting recorded within specific ranges, you are considered to be suffering from hypertension. On this blood pressure awareness day, take valuable insights on the ranges of BP:

• Stage 1 : 130 – 139 / 85 – 89 mmHg
• Stage 2 : 140 – 159 / 90 – 99 mmHg
• Hypertensive Crisis: Above 180 / 110 mmHg, requiring medical attention immediately

Hypertension awareness  should lead to immediate medical consultation to understand your risk of it further and control it.

Hypertension: Risks and Complications

If you are suffering from uncontrolled hypertension, you run a significant risk of developing serious health problems. Some of these are listed below:

• Heart disease and heart attack
• Stroke is caused by a blocked or ruptured artery in the brain
• Kidney diseases and failure
• Aneurysm or weakness in the wall of a blood vessel
• Loss of vision
• Dementia or loss of at least two functions of the brain, interfering with  your daily functioning

All these complications are potentially life-threatening, giving even more importance to detecting and managing hypertension early and effectively.

Symptoms of Hypertension

The majority of people suffering from hypertension do not notice any symptoms. Hypertension is known as a silent killer. The following alarming  statistics emerge from the World Health Organisation (WHO) 2023 Global report on hypertension:

• Percentage of adults with hypertension who are diagnosed with  it: 54% 
• Percentage receiving treatment: 42% 
• Percentage having their hypertension controlled: 21% 

The same report states that the number of adults with hypertension in the South East Asia region of the World Health Organisation, comprising countries like India, Nepal, Thailand and Indonesia, increased from 29% to 32% in 2019 as compared to 1990. The importance of World Hypertension Day in these regions cannot be undermined.

Some potential symptoms of hypertension which you need to be aware of are as mentioned below:

• Headaches
• Chest pain
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Blood in your urine

>> Also Read: Symptoms and Prevention Tips for High Blood Pressure

How to Manage Hypertension?

Have you had high blood pressure for a few days? High blood pressure cannot be cured permanently or reversed. However, the good news is that you can manage the level of your hypertension by taking preventive measures and lifestyle changes. The main ways in which you may control your blood pressure levels include:

• High Dose of Positive Thoughts: Positivity is a very powerful tool for lowering blood pressure levels without medications and complications. Fostering a positive mindset helps reduce negative emotions, stress, and anxiety, which is ultimately required to manage the heartbeat rate. Practice gratitude, embrace optimism, and change your negative thoughts to positive ones.
• Healthy Diet: You must eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. You must reduce or avoid salt, food containing saturated fats, and processed foods.
• Reduce Salt Intake: Excess sodium can raise blood pressure, so keep your salt intake in check.
• Regular Exercise: The bare minimum is 150 minutes of exercise per week at moderate intensity. Regular exercise helps relieve stress, promotes the release of endorphins, and enhances blood flow.
• Maintain Healthy Weight: You may be able to reduce your blood pressure levels by reducing weight if you are overweight or obese. Maintaining a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 18.5 – 24.9 kg/m2 is ideal for stabilising your hypertension. Body Mass Index (BMI) is your weight in Kilograms divided by the square of your height in meters. 
• Limit Alcohol and Smoking: Excessive drinking and smoking results in an increase in your blood pressure. Your body starts to experience positive changes within just 20 minutes of quitting smoking. 
• Manage Stress: Practice techniques to manage your stress levels. Meditation, yoga and deep breathing canhelp lower your levels of hypertension. 
• Regular Medications: If your doctor has prescribed medicines, you need to take them regularly to allow them to work correctly and maintain your blood pressure at optimal levels. 

The following are the types of medicines usually prescribed for controlling high blood pressure:

• Diuretics 
• Beta-blockers
• ACE inhibitors
• Angiotensin II receptor blockers
• Calcium channel blockers
• Alpha-blockers
• Alpha-2 receptor agonists
• Combined alpha and beta blockers
• Vasodilators

How Can You Detect Hypertension Early and Prevent It?

The overall goal of observing World Hypertension Day is to improve global health through early detection and prevention. You need to follow these steps to be able to detect hypertension early and prevent it from affecting you:

You need to monitor your blood pressure levels regularly. This is even more important for those who are genetically or otherwise at higher risk levels. It is a crucial factor in detecting hypertension early and intervening in time.

You need to know the potential risk factors and adjust your lifestyle accordingly to reduce your risk of developing hypertension.

Manage Hypertension-related Treatment Expenses with Care Health Insurance

If left untreated, hypertension can lead to serious health conditions, including heart attack or kidney failure, which involves an expensive course of treatment. Without a financial back-up, one may end up wiping out his/her lifetime savings. Here comes Care Health Insurance into the picture. Some of our health insurance policies cover hypertension as a pre-existing disease with a normal waiting period of 36 months in their policies like Care Supreme, Care Advantage and Care Senior Citizen. The waiting period is 24 months in the case of the Care Heart policy. The medical policy will cover your treatment expenses, such as pre- and post-hospitalisation, annual health check-up, home care cover, and cashless hospitalisation in network healthcare providers.

You may also purchase optional add-on benefits to reduce the waiting period. With the Care Supreme Instant Cover add-on, get coverage for hypertension-related expenses after 30 30-day waiting period. On the other hand, the Care Advantage comes with an optional benefit called Modification of PED Wait Period, where you can reduce the waiting period to 1, 2 or 3 years as you opted. 

The Race Against a Silent Killer 

Hypertension is a serious condition and can be life-threatening if left untreated. However, it is manageable. Once you understand the risks it poses, the symptoms and the ways to manage it, you can control the further complications. To this effect, the World Hypertension Day theme, “Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer”, acquires additional significance, and thus World Hypertension Day's importance increases manifold.

>>Also Read: Best Health Insurance Policy for Hypertension

Disclaimer: All plan features, benefits, coverage and claims underwriting are subject to policy terms and conditions. Kindly refer to the brochure, sales prospectus and policy documents carefully.