Our first blog post - high blood pressure is the #1 global health risk factor
Submitted by Jeff on December 3, 2009 - 4:38pm
Welcome to the Take the Pressure Down blog. We’re aiming to supplement the HSF blood pressure web tools with information about the latest on research into and prevention and management of high blood pressure.
Over the past year, more than 5,000 British Columbians have taken the test – the Heart and Stroke Risk Assessment. We hope more of you will check it out.Here’s why.
In October, the World Health Organization said that high blood pressure is the number one risk factor for mortality in the world. The Global Health Risks report looks at the top 20 risk factors for death around the world. Disease related to high blood pressure accounts for 12.8% of all mortality In high income countries like Canada, that number goes up to 16.8%. But even in the poorest countries, most of which are in Africa, high blood pressure is a close (and growing) number two to childhood underweight as as a risk factor. Globally, cardiovascular risk factors (excluding tobacco use) are responsible for one third of all deaths.
