Hypertension – A Silent Killer

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VII, Issue IV, April 2020 | ISSN 2321–2705

Hypertension – A Silent Killer

Gopika T, Dr. Shinu.C, Fathimath Thasreefa P, Mohammed Asheeque A.K
Alshifa College of Pharmacy, Poonthavanam (PO), Kizhattur, Malappuram, Kerala, India

Abstract: – Hypertension is a major public health problem all around the world due to its high prevalence. Around 7.5 million deaths is occur or 12.8% of the total of all annual deaths worldwide occur due to high blood pressure. It is predicted to be increased to 1.56 billion adults with hypertension in 2025. Raised blood pressure is the major risk factor for chronic heart disease, stroke, and coronary heart disease. BP elevation is very much positively correlated to the risk of having stroke and coronary heart disease. Other than coronary heart disease and stroke, heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, renal impairment, retinal hemorrhage, and visual impairment are the complications. Hypertension (or HTN) or high blood pressure is defined as abnormally high arterial blood pressure. According to the Joint National Committee 7 (JNC7), normal blood pressure is a systolic BP < 120mmHg and diastolic BP < 80mmHg. Hypertension is defined as systolic BP level of ≥140mmHg and/or diastolic BP level ≥ 90mmHg. The grey area falling between 120–139mmHg systolic BP and 80–89mmHg diastolic BP is defined as “pre-hypertension”. Pre -hypertensive subjects are at more risk of developing hypertension but it itself is not a medical condition. The risk factors and factors affecting poor adherence can be reduced by assessing medication adherence and by providing patient counseling about their disease conditions, drugs, and life style modifications.

Keywords: Hypertension, BP elevation, Medication adherence

I. INTRODUCTION

Hypertension is considered as one of the major community health problem in many of the countries. It is the one of the cardiovascular diseases estimated to cause 7.1 million deaths annually, accounting for 13% of all deaths globally and remains as a significant public health challenge and one of the most essential risk factors for coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure and end stage renal disease if left untreated.[1]
Hypertension is a condition in which the blood vessels have persistently raised pressure. It can also be defined as a systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥ 90 mmHg. Because of its financial cost and chronicity, it is considered as a worldwide public health burden.[2] HTN is known as the “silent killer” and that can be easily detected and majority of the hypertensive patients (more than 50%) do not know they have HTN until their organs are getting damaged especially to heart, brain and kidneys.[1]

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