Health Days 2011

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World Hypertension Day

Know Your Numbers and Target Your Blood Pressure

Introduction

Blood pressure is the force applied against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood through the body. Hypertension is a chronic medical condition in which the average blood pressure is elevated.
Hypertension may affect men and women from any racial background or age category. The incidence rates of hypertension across a given population group may range from between 10% to 40%.

Globally, 7 million people die and 1.5 billion suffer every year because of high blood pressure or hypertension. Incidence of cases of high blood pressure had reached 26.1% in 2007, based on a study conducted on 17,230 people.

Each year, May 17th is designated World Hypertension Day, which promotes awareness of the prevention, detection, control, treatment and complications of hypertension.

Official Date

May 17, 2011, corresponding to Jamadi Thani 14, 1432 H.

World Hypertension Day’s 2011 Theme

Know Your Numbers and Target Your Blood Pressure

Targeted Categories

Hypertension patients
General public

Objectives

To inform the public about hypertension, including:

Causes
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Highlight the incidence of preventable strokes, heart and kidney disease caused by high blood pressure
The importance of measuring blood measure regularly at home or in hospital

Logo (2011)