World Hypertension Day

World Hypertension Day is a day designated and initiated by The World Hypertension League (WHL), which is itself an umbrella to organizations of 85 national hypertension societies and leagues. The day was initiated to increase the awareness of hypertension. This was especially important because of the lack of appropriate knowledge among hypertensive patients.[1] The WHL launched its first WHD on May 14, 2005. Since 2006, the WHL has been dedicating May 17 of every year as WHD.[2]

In 2005, as the inaugural effort, the theme was simply ‘Awareness of high blood pressure’. The 2006 theme was ‘Treat to goal’, with a focus on keeping blood pressure under control.[1] The recommended blood pressures are less than 140/90 mmHg for the general population and for the hypertensive population without any other complications, and less than 130/80 mmHg for those with diabetes mellitus or chronic kidney disease. These are the cut-off values recommended by international and Canadian guidelines.[3][4] The 2007 WHD theme was ‘Healthy diet, healthy blood pressure’. Through such specific themes, the WHL intends to raise awareness not only of hypertension, but also of factors contributing to an increase in the incidence of hypertension and on ways to prevent it.[1] In an effort to empower the public, the theme for 2008 was ‘Measure your blood pressure…at home’. Recent reports confirm the ease, accuracy and safety of blood pressure measurements using home monitors.[5][6][7]

For the five-year period 2013-2018, the theme of WHD will be ‘Know Your Numbers’ with the goal of increasing high blood pressure awareness in all populations around the world.[8]

References
  1. Chockalingam A (May 2007). "Impact of World Hypertension Day". The Canadian Journal of Cardiology. 23 (7): 517–9. doi:10.1016/S0828-282X(07)70795-X. PMC 2650754. PMID 17534457.
  2. Chockalingam A (June 2008). "World Hypertension Day and global awareness". The Canadian Journal of Cardiology. 24 (6): 441–4. doi:10.1016/S0828-282X(08)70617-2. PMC 2643187. PMID 18548140.
  3. Campbell NR, Petrella R, Kaczorowski J (May 2006). "Public education on hypertension: a new initiative to improve the prevention, treatment and control of hypertension in Canada". The Canadian Journal of Cardiology. 22 (7): 599–603. doi:10.1016/s0828-282x(06)70282-3. PMC 2560867. PMID 16755315.
  4. Hemmelgarn BR, McAlister FA, Grover S, et al. (May 2006). "The 2006 Canadian Hypertension Education Program recommendations for the management of hypertension: Part I--Blood pressure measurement, diagnosis and assessment of risk". The Canadian Journal of Cardiology. 22 (7): 573–81. doi:10.1016/S0828-282X(06)70279-3. PMC 2560864. PMID 16755312.
  5. McKay DW, Godwin M, Chockalingam A (May 2007). "Practical advice for home blood pressure measurement". The Canadian Journal of Cardiology. 23 (7): 577–80. doi:10.1016/s0828-282x(07)70804-8. PMC 2650763. PMID 17534466.
  6. Stergiou GS, Skeva II, Zourbaki AS, Mountokalakis TD (June 1998). "Self-monitoring of blood pressure at home: how many measurements are needed?". Journal of Hypertension. 16 (6): 725–31. doi:10.1097/00004872-199816060-00002. PMID 9663911.
  7. Stergiou GS, Skeva II, Baibas NM, Kalkana CB, Roussias LG, Mountokalakis TD (December 2000). "Diagnosis of hypertension using home or ambulatory blood pressure monitoring: comparison with the conventional strategy based on repeated clinic blood pressure measurements". Journal of Hypertension. 18 (12): 1745–51. doi:10.1097/00004872-200018120-00007. PMID 11132597.
  8. International Society of Hypertension (ISH)
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