Silent killer: High blood pressure often goes unnoticed by half of those affected, warns WHO.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has published its inaugural report on the severe global impact of high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. The report includes recommendations on how to combat this silent killer and reveals that half of all people with hypertension are unaware of their condition. It further discloses that approximately 80% of individuals with hypertension do not receive adequate treatment. Scaling up the coverage of hypertension could potentially prevent 76 million deaths between 2023 and 2050.

According to the WHO report, one in three adults worldwide suffers from hypertension. This prevalent and dangerous condition increases the risk of stroke, heart attack, heart failure, kidney damage, and other health problems. The number of individuals affected by hypertension has doubled from 650 million to 1.3 billion between 1990 and 2019.

The report identifies older age and genetics as factors that can contribute to high blood pressure. However, modifiable risk factors such as consuming a high-salt diet, leading a sedentary lifestyle, and excessive alcohol consumption also increase the risk. The report recommends lifestyle changes, including adopting a healthier diet, quitting tobacco use, and engaging in regular physical activity, to help lower blood pressure.

The report emphasizes that effective hypertension control can be achieved through simple and affordable medication regimens. However, only one in five individuals with hypertension currently have their condition under control. Hypertension control programs are underfunded and neglected, and the report calls for their strengthening and integration into universal health coverage.

The report's launch took place during the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly and aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals, including goals related to health, pandemic preparedness, tuberculosis eradication, and universal health coverage. It asserts that better prevention and control of hypertension are vital for progress in these areas.

Furthermore, the report states that achieving treatment levels comparable to those in high-performing countries could prevent millions of deaths, strokes, heart attacks, and cases of heart failure by 2050. Michael R. Bloomberg, WHO Global Ambassador for Non-communicable Diseases and Injuries, highlights the potential to prevent heart attacks and strokes with affordable medications and interventions such as sodium reduction.

In conclusion, the report underscores the urgent need to prioritize hypertension prevention, early detection, and effective management. It calls for global commitment and investment in primary health care systems to save lives and reduce healthcare costs associated with hypertension.

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Omega-3s for anxiety?

Omega-3 fatty acid supplements may help ease anxiety symptoms in people diagnosed with a range of physical and mental health problems, according to a review published in the Sept. 14, 2018, JAMA Network Open. The report pooled findings from 19 different studies and included 1,200 people. Most of the studies compared omega-3 supplements to a placebo. Taken together, the studies included people with a range of health problems, including heart attacks, attention deficit disorder, substance abuse, depression, and Parkinson's disease, as well as some groups without any specific clinical diagnosis. Researchers found that people who took high doses of omega-3s (up to 2,000 mg a day) seemed to have the most reduction in anxiety symptoms. Omega-3 fatty acids, which are usually derived from fish oil, have a number of biological effects in the body. Brain membranes contain a high proportion of these fats, and human studies suggest that a lack of omega-3s in the brain may induce various behavioral and psychiatric disorders. For now, it's too soon to recommend high-dose omega-3 supplements for treating anxiety. Larger trials testing the supplements (both alone and combined with standard treatments) are needed, the study authors say.

Source: Harvard health letter