Buy onlineBy Dr Avron Urison, Chief Medical Officer at 1Life Insurance
Hypertension or high blood pressure, is often unnoticed but highly dangerous, making it one of the world’s most overlooked public health challenges. Globally, an estimated 1.4 billion adults have hypertension. In South Africa, 1 in 4 men and 1 in 5 women are affected - indicating the urgent need for intervention.
As World Hypertension Day approaches on 17 May, it is not simply enough to be educated about the dangers of hypertension or to know what it is; rather, it is about inspiring action to ensure that knowledge translates into behavioural change.
The silent killer
Hypertension is widely recognised as the silent killer, because most people who have high blood pressure are not always aware that they suffer from hypertension because of a lack of visible symptoms. Many individuals feel healthy and therefore assume they are not at risk. However, high blood pressure can quietly damage blood vessels and vital organs over time, often only becoming apparent once serious complications arise.
According to reports, a staggering 91.1% of people remain unscreened and therefore undiagnosed. Despite this alarming figure, only 8.9% of people have their blood pressure levels controlled. This gap in diagnosis directly contributes to preventable health illnesses such as heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure.
Early detection is essential
Making routine medical screenings a priority is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Avoiding late detection is important, so regular blood pressure screening is recommended regardless of age or perceived fitness. Early detection significantly reduces the risk of severe complications and enables timely intervention. Communities and health care officials should also encourage regular health screenings and make them easily accessible by providing mobile health screening facilities to reach those who are not privileged or who live far from clinics and other health facilities. Social media campaigns can also play a major role in destigmatising health screenings. Collectively, we can create healthier communities.
Help is within reach
Encouragingly, hypertension is preventable and manageable. Healthy lifestyle changes do not need to be drastic; simple, achievable changes can help lower the risk. These include reducing salt intake, eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, quitting smoking, avoiding excessive alcohol consumption, prioritising sleep and developing healthy stress management habits.
For those already diagnosed, it is vital that you continue to make conscious healthy lifestyle choices and take the necessary medication to prevent other illnesses from quietly developing due to a lack of commitment to healthy living.
Take the necessary action
While education around hypertension has grown, there is still a huge a gap between knowledge and action. Many people recognise the dangers of high blood pressure, yet still postpone testing, overlook early warning signs, or fail to make meaningful lifestyle changes. This World Hypertension Day is a call to move beyond awareness and take meaningful action. Hypertension is not just an individual concern; it affects communities and often leaves families vulnerable. 1Life Insurance encourages everyone to adopt simple, consistent, healthy lifestyle choices today. Shifting from a reactive approach to implementing proactive strategies in order to protect our families through regular screenings and conscious daily habits that reduce risk and support long-term well-being.