Definition:
Hypertension is defined as steady increase in pressurizing the blood vessels; this in turn strains the function of pumping the blood to the heart. Therefore, it is considered one of the main factors leading to the cardiovascular diseases. Both hypertension and cardiovascular diseases account for the early death cases worldwide.
Since 2005, the World Hypertension Day has been celebrated every year and according to global statistics, only 50% of those with hypertension were aware they actually had it and in many countries awareness is very low, less than 10%. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that the annual death tolls from cardiovascular diseases are about 17 million, of whom at least 45% are attributed to hypertension.
The World Heart Federation calls upon all participating countries in the events of the World Hypertension Day to register the blood pressure for 100,000 people to be added to the world register of the campaign. According to the recent study of the chronic diseases conducted by the Ministry of Health (MOH) in 2013, the percent of blood pressure among men and women is 17.7% and 12.3% respectively. The community health survey included all regions of the Kingdom and age groups of 15 years and over.
Internationally approved date: May 17th, 2015
Locally approved date: Rajab 28th, 1436H
Theme of the World Hypertension Day 2015:
"Know Your Numbers"
Targeted group:
- Those suffering from hypertension
- Patients' families
- Those working in the health field such as physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and health educationists
- Those working in the educational field such as teachers and social workers, among others.
- Health decision-makers.
- Health societies and organizations.
- Society as a whole