Global Health Crisis: Uncontrolled Hypertension Puts Over a Billion at Risk

Global Health Crisis: Uncontrolled Hypertension Puts Over a Billion at Risk
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The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a stark warning, declaring that uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure) is currently putting more than 1.4 billion people at risk globally, underscoring a critical public health failure, AfricaNews reported.

Dr. Alarcos Cieza of the WHO characterized the situation as a global crisis, noting that over a billion people are untreated, significantly increasing their risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, and dementia. Hypertension caused 11 million deaths worldwide, accounting for 16% of all fatalities.

The report highlights that only about one in five people with hypertension have it under control. The primary barriers are systemic: a lack of public awareness, an insufficient and untrained health workforce, a lack of political commitment, and challenges in accessing affordable medicines. Cardiovascular diseases are projected to cost lower-income countries $3.7 trillion by 2025. The WHO is urgently calling for global action to scale up detection and treatment.