World Hypertension Day, 17 May 2023 | Significance & Theme

World Hypertension Day is a global healthcare event celebrated on the 17th of May every year, intending the communication of increased blood pressure significance to people in addition to explaining the impact of hypertension in the development of serious medical complications and providing a piece of knowledge on prevention, detection and treatment.

To achieve the above goals, various local and global healthcare organisations, media, healthcare professionals and volunteer organisations come together to provide resources for spreading awareness. 

Currently, hypertension is defined as systolic blood pressure of 130 mmHg or more and/or diastolic blood pressure of more than 80 mmHg as per American College of Cardiology (ACC).

Significance of World Hypertension Day (WHD)

Hypertension is called the silent killer as it gradually increases in the body, due to which the development of various cardiovascular disorders such as myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure. It gives no warning signs or symptoms whatsoever.

Affecting over 100 crore adults worldwide, the population suffering from hypertension accounts for up to 45% of the adult population. Hypertension is consistent across all socio-economic and income strata, and its prevalence rises with age. 

Hypertension has been the leading cause of death and disability-adjusted life years worldwide since 1990, according to a global health survey report. The number of people with hypertension is anticipated to increase by 15-20%, reaching close to 150 crores by 2025.

It is better to cut the problem even before it starts, just as it is better to reduce hypertension rather than to deal with the complications it tends to bring. To achieve this, World Hypertension Day was established, which focuses on spreading awareness of hypertension.

World Hypertension Day 2023 Theme

This year, 2023, the World Hypertension Day theme is “Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer”, which focuses on the efforts to combat the low awareness rates of hypertension, especially in low to middle-income areas and to promote accurate blood pressure measurement methods.

This is the theme which has been continued since 2021. The theme's longevity is enough to emphasise the necessity of an accurate diagnosis of hypertension.

To promote awareness of hypertension, Pan American Health Organization started a free online course on accurate automated blood pressure (BP) measurement to check BP monitor accuracy in 16 languages.

• World Hypertension Day 2022 Theme: Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer
• World Hypertension Day 2021 Theme: Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer
• World Hypertension Day 2020 Theme: Know Your Number
• World Hypertension Day 2019 Theme: Know Your Number
• World Hypertension Day 2018 Theme: Know Your Number

Barriers to the Measurement of Blood Pressure

Measuring blood pressure can be challenging due to patients' inherent characteristics and behaviours. The clinical staff noticed a wide range of behaviours displayed by the patients, although not purposeful but could disrupt BP measurement.

The various patient-related barriers interfering with obtaining high-quality BP measurements, which include but are not limited to: 

• Absence of firm plantation of both feet on the floor (not crossed, dangling, etc.).
• The lowered placing of the patient’s arm and the palm was not facing up during the measurement.
• Immediate measurement of BP as soon as the patient walked into the clinic 
• The patient did not sit upright with their back supported
• The patient was talking during the BP measurement 
• The cuff was improperly placed (not directly on the skin during BP measurement)
• Only obtaining one reading, even if the initial reading was more than equal to140/90 mm Hg
• The patient was moving during the measurement 
• Application of incorrect cuff size to take measurement 

A study estimated that at least 10-50% of hypertensive patients reported normal blood pressure outside when compared to clinics and hospitals. Although it could be attributed to “white coat hypertension” - the sudden increase of blood pressure during a doctor’s visit probably due to anxiety, it could also be due to the aforementioned barriers leading to falsely elevated BP measurements. 

Falsely BP measurements could lead to unnecessary escalation or initiation of hypertensive medications, which bring their adverse effects with increased costs. The above barriers can be easily overcome, which helps the healthcare team to accurately measure and diagnose hypertension.

Tips to Reduce Blood Pressure

There are various easily implemented tips which can be attempted to reduce blood pressure. A few of them are as follows: 

• Increased activity and exercise 
• Losing any weight in case of overweight
• Cutting back on refined carbohydrates and sugar 
• Taking more potassium and less sodium in the diet
• Avoiding processed food
• Abstaining smoking and alcoholism
• Reducing excessive stress
• Maintenance of a good and restful sleep
• Taking more garlic or garlic extract supplements
• Taking enough healthy high protein foods
• Cutting back on caffeine

Department of General Medicine