High blood pressure at ‘alarming rate’

People’s relaxed attitudes to high blood pressure are contributing to it spreading at “an alarming rate” worldwide, a leading medical journal has warned.

High blood pressure (hypertension) can lead to heart disease, stroke, renal failure and premature death. In developed countries over 90 per cent of people are at risk of developing it.

Despite this, the Lancet argues that many patients believe it can be easily cured and stop or reduce their medication once levels start to fall.

It claims the disease burden of hypertension is set to increase “massively”.

In 2000, the estimated number of adults living with high blood pressure was 972 million and this is expected to increase to 1.56 billion by 2025.

“Lifestyle factors such as physical inactivity, a salt-rich diet with high processed and fatty foods, and alcohol and tobacco use are at the heart of this increased disease burden which is spreading at an alarming rate from developed countries to emerging economies, such as India and China,” the Lancet editorial states.

Commenting on the claims, Dr Isabel Lee of The Stroke Association said that GPs “need to ensure” patients realise why it is important to continue with their medication.

Judy O’Sullivan, cardiac nurse for the British Heart Foundation, added: “Unfortunately people are often unaware of having high blood pressure until it is picked up during a routine assessment.”