A Global Public Health Issue

Hypertension (high blood pressure) affects approximately 1 billion people worldwide and that figure is likely to increase in the future.¹

A large percentage of hypertension cases may have no underlying medical cause, but can be a secondary symptom of other conditions like kidney disease or endocrine disease.²

Some causes of hypertension are:²

• Not getting enough exercise
• Being overweight or obese
• Having too much salt in your diet
• Regularly drinking too much alcohol
• A family history of high blood pressure

Hypertension can also occur during pregnancy, but may be an indicator of other more serious conditions.²

Limited awareness, and consequently, undiagnosed and untreated hypertension, has made the condition a primary risk factor for cardiovascular disease, stroke and cardiovascular mortality worldwide.²

Evidence suggests that blood pressure that is even ‘moderately’ high can increase the risk of cardiovascular complications. The heart, the main blood vessels, the brain and the kidneys are the organs that are primarily at risk in hypertension. Effective treatment and management of hypertension is therefore essential in order to avoid further complications or risks like heart attack or stroke. Anti-hypertensive treatment that lowers blood pressure is paramount to reducing the risk of morbidity and cardiovascular mortality.²

Find Out More

For more information on the use of antihypertensive treatments for the reduction of blood pressure and cardiovascular disease prevention, including safety, efficacy, dosing and administration, please visit the product websites for Micardis and Twynsta.

References

1. World Health Organization. Global status report on noncommunicable diseases 2010. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2011.
2. World Health Organization. A Global Brief on Hypertension – Silent Killer, Global Public Health Crisis. World Health Organization, 2013.