World Hypertension day 2021

Team Udayavani, May 17, 2021, 4:52 PM IST

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Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure is a medical condition when the blood pressure in arteries regularly stays elevated that could lead to severe health complications like heart attacks and strokes.

World Hypertension Day 2021 is observed every year on May 17. This day was initiated by The World Hypertension League (WHL), which itself an umbrella to organizations of 85 national hypertension leagues and societies.

World Hypertension League was launched on May 14, 2005, and since 2006 it has been dedicating May 17 of every year as World Hypertension Day.

WHL intends to not only raise awareness about hypertension but also of its factors and prevention methods since it affects more than 30% of the adult population worldwide which accounts for more than one billion people around the world.

The theme for World Hypertension Day for a period of five years, from 2013 to 2018, has been ‘Know Your Numbers’ that aimed at increasing high blood pressure awareness in all populations around the world, the theme in 2021 is ‘Measure your blood pressure, control it, live longer!’ aiming to raise awareness especially in low to middle-income areas and promote the accurate blood pressure measurement methods.