HYPERTENSION: ACT NOW!

What is hypertension?

Blood pressure is the force of circulating 140 Hypertension is

blood against the walls of the body’s
arteries, the major blood vessels in the
90 diagnosed if blood
body. Hypertension is when the force of pressure readings are
the blood pressure is excessive. 140-90 or above on
Most people with high blood pressure two different days.
DO NOT KNOW THEY HAVE IT.

How many people have high blood pressure?

1.13 BILLION PEOPLE

have hypertension

1in 5 1in 4

WOMEN HAVE HYPERTENSION MEN HAVE HYPERTENSION

What are the risk factors? What are the consequences?

Salt Harmful use

consumption of alcohol
• Heart attack
• Stroke
Low intake of fruits Lack of physical
and vegetables activity • Kidney failure
• Blindness
• Other complications
Saturated fat Tobacco
and trans fats use

Being overweight
or obese
 How to prevent hypertension? How to detect hypertension?

Health workers should regularly

• Reduce salt (to less than check people’s blood pressure.
5g daily)
• Eat fruit and vegetables
regularly NO SYMPTOMS
DOES NOT MEAN
• Avoid saturated fats and normal blood pressure

trans fats
• Avoid tobacco
• Reduce alcohol
• Be physically active,
People might have high blood
daily
pressure WITHOUT ANY
WARNING SIGNS OR
SYMPTOMS.

How to control hypertension?

• Follow medical advice and

Hypertension treatment is indicated adhere to lifestyle changes
for adults whose blood pressure is
140 – 90 mmHG or higher. • Take medicines as
Treatment adherence is critical for prescribed
blood pressure control.
• Regularly check blood
pressure
• Reduce and manage stress
HEARTS

HEARTS is a technical package to help

health workers improve cardiovascular
health in primary health care through
hypertension detection and management.

Healthy-lifestyle Evidence-based Access to essential Team-based Systems

counselling treatment protocols medicines and technology care for monitoring

www.who.int/cardiovascular_diseases/hearts/en/