A staggering 1.4 billion people are living with hypertension globally, but more than one billion of them do not have it under control, according to a new report from the World Health Organization (WHO). This uncontrolled high blood pressure is a leading cause of preventable deaths from heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease.
The report, released during the UN General Assembly, reveals a stark divide between rich and poor nations. While effective, low-cost medications exist, they are generally available in only 28% of low-income countries, compared to 93% of high-income countries.
“Every hour, over 1000 lives are lost to strokes and heart attacks from high blood pressure, and most of these deaths are preventable,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. He urged countries to use the tools at their disposal, stating, “With political will… we can save millions.”
The report identified major barriers to control, including weak health policies, lack of access to medical equipment, and unreliable medicine supplies. Despite the challenges, countries like Bangladesh and the Philippines have shown progress by integrating hypertension care into primary health systems, proving that improvement is achievable.
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