Published: 20 April 2007
High-stress lifestyles fuelled by alcohol and fast food that leave no time for exercise are leading to more cases of high blood pressure and threaten an epidemic of heart disease across the globe.
Known as the "silent killer" because it is symptomless but deadly, high blood pressure can damage major organs and lead to heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease and dementia.
It already affects one in four adults globally - about one billion people - and causes an estimated seven million deaths from cardiovascular disease a year. The figure is set to increase by 60 per cent over the next two decades if nothing is done, says a report by three international health experts.
Launched at the European Parliament in Brussels, the report,High Blood Pressure and Health Policy, calls for better education, improved health care and greater efforts to persuade people to change their lifestyles. The authors hope the statistics will prompt a campaign to tackle repeatedly high blood pressure, known as hypertension. continue...
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