Hypertension
Item
Title
Hypertension
Description
Hypertension is a global phenomenon and is common to all human populations with the exception of some primitive communities that live in cultural isolation, for example, in the Amazon
basin. It accounts for up to 6% of adult deaths worldwide. Some reports suggest that as of
203, there are billion people worldwide, who might have hypertension. It is believed that
there is a global epidemic of yet unknown proportions as abnormally elevated blood pressures
are often asymptomatic. Indeed the first diagnosis of hypertension is often made when the
individual presents with a myocardial infarction or a stroke. Hypertension is thus rightly often
referred to as the ‘silent killer’. Yet it was not always thought to be a bad thing. Historically, the
term ‘benign essential hypertension’ reflects the attitudes towards high blood pressure in the
early twentieth century.
basin. It accounts for up to 6% of adult deaths worldwide. Some reports suggest that as of
203, there are billion people worldwide, who might have hypertension. It is believed that
there is a global epidemic of yet unknown proportions as abnormally elevated blood pressures
are often asymptomatic. Indeed the first diagnosis of hypertension is often made when the
individual presents with a myocardial infarction or a stroke. Hypertension is thus rightly often
referred to as the ‘silent killer’. Yet it was not always thought to be a bad thing. Historically, the
term ‘benign essential hypertension’ reflects the attitudes towards high blood pressure in the
early twentieth century.