The India hypertension control initiative
The India hypertension control initiative
Subject: Science and Technology
Section: Health
Context: On the hypertension spectrum
Concept: High blood pressure (hypertension) is a common condition in which the long-term force of the blood against your artery walls is high enough that it may eventually cause health problems, such as heart disease.
Hypertension is diagnosed if, when it is measured on two different days, the systolic blood pressure readings on both days is ≥140 mmHg and/or the diastolic blood pressure readings on both days is ≥90 mmHg.
Blood pressure is denoted by two numbers
- Systolic number – the pressure in blood vessels when the heart contracts or beats.
- Diastolic number – the pressure in the vessels when the heart rests between beats.
Hypertension ̶ or elevated blood pressure ̶ is a serious medical condition that significantly increases the risks of heart, brain, kidney and other diseases.
- An estimated 1.28 billion adults aged 30-79 years worldwide have hypertension, most (two-thirds) living in low- and middle-income countries
- An estimated 46% of adults with hypertension are unaware that they have the condition.
- Less than half of adults (42%) with hypertension are diagnosed and treated.
- Approximately 1 in 5 adults (21%) with hypertension have it under control.
- Hypertension is a major cause of premature death worldwide.
- One of the global targets for non-communicable diseases is to reduce the prevalence of hypertension by 33% between 2010 and 2030.
The risk factors for hypertension
Modifiable risk factors include
- Unhealthy diets (excessive salt consumption,
- A diet high in saturated fat and trans fats,
- Low intake of fruits and vegetables), physical inactivity,
- Consumption of tobacco and alcohol,
- Being overweight or obese.
Non-modifiable risk factors include
- A family history of hypertension,
- Age over 65 years and
- Co-existing diseases such as diabetes or kidney disease.
Common symptoms of hypertension
It is called a “silent killer”.
Most people with hypertension have no warning signs or symptoms.
- Early morning headaches,
- Nosebleeds,
- Irregular heart rhythms,
- vision changes, and Buzzing in the ears.
- Fatigue,
- Nausea,
- Vomiting,
- Confusion,
- Anxiety,
- Chest pain, and
- Muscle tremors.
Why is hypertension an important issue in low- and middle-income countries?
The prevalence of hypertension varies across regions and country income groups. The WHO African Region has the highest prevalence of hypertension (27%) while the WHO Region of the Americas has the lowest prevalence of hypertension (18%).
The number of adults with hypertension increased from 594 million in 1975 to 1.13 billion in 2015, with the increase seen largely in low- and middle-income countries. This increase is due mainly to a rise in hypertension risk factors in those populations.
In India
A project called the India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI) finds that nearly 23% out of 2.1 million Indians have uncontrolled blood pressure.
The India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI) is a multi-partner initiative, implementing and scaling up a public health hypertension control program across India.
About the IHCI: Recognising that hypertension is a serious, and growing, health issue in India, the Health Ministry, the Indian Council of Medical Research, State Governments, and WHO-India began a five-year initiative to monitor and treat hypertension.
India has committed to a “25 by 25” goal, which aims to reduce premature mortality due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by 25% by 2025. One of the nine voluntary targets includes reducing the prevalence of high blood pressure by 25% by 2025.