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50% of people with dangerous condition that kills 10m a year don’t even know they have it
You could be living with a health condition and not know it. In fact, if you have uncontrolled hypertension and youre in the US, youre more likely to be oblivious to it than you are to be aware of it.
Thats according to a new health study using nationally representative survey data. Keeping your blood pressure down reduces your risk of developing Alzheimers disease. It also helps lower your risk of having a stroke. There are plenty of reasons to keep an eye on your blood pressure �its associated with 10 million deaths per year.
Half of people with the number one risk factor for death globally dont realize it
More than half, in fact. A full 58% of US adults aged 18 years or older with uncontrolled hypertension dont know they have it, according to a new survey.
Meanwhile, more than two-thirds of those who know about it and medicate it still cant keep it down.
These are the key findings of a report published in October 2024 by JAMA Network.�
The reason theyre such remarkable statistics is that hypertension is the number one risk factor for death globally. It affects more than 1 billion people, according to the World Heart Foundation, accounting for about half of all heart disease and stroke-related deaths worldwide. That’s about 10 million deaths in total, per year.
It doesnt cause symptoms on its own. Thats why people call it the silent killer ; it creeps up on you, wreaking havoc without letting you know what it’s doing.�
What is uncontrolled hypertension, and how can you control it?
Uncontrolled hypertension also goes by the name resistant hypertension. Its a more scientific name for high blood pressure.
If its not detected and controlled, high blood pressure can lead to numerous health problems:
- Heart attack, heart failure, or heart disease
- Stroke
- Kidney disease or kidney failure
- Loss of vision
- Sexual dysfunction
- Atherosclerosis plaque buildup in the arteries
The American Heart Association explains that when your blood pressure is too high for a long period, it can damage the walls of blood vessels. This causes them to develop tiny tears.
To fix the tears, your body sends special cells that stick to the site. However, over time, cholesterol and fats also build up in these damaged areas, forming plaque. Plaque buildup makes the arteries narrower, which blocks the flow of blood. This is bad, very bad, and can lead to serious conditions.
Keep your blood pressure down by eating a healthy diet the DASH eating plan is specially formulated to combat hypertension; exercise regularly; and manage your stress levels.
