Infographic: Help Spread Awareness About Hypertension

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is the silent killer of millions of people around the globe. The World Health Organization identifies high blood pressure as a major risk factor for stroke, coronary heart disease (CAD) and transient ischemic attack (TIA). This infographic, “What You Don’t Know Might Kill You: Everything You Need to Know About Blood Pressure,” created by Carrington College, explains the dangers of high blood pressure. For example, in addition to claiming millions of lives, high blood pressure costs the U.S. healthcare system $46 billion annually. One in three Americans has high blood pressure, which will amount to 41.4 percent of the total U.S. population by 2030, a startling statistic.

Obesity is one of the most significant risk factors for high blood pressure. Up to one in three children and two in three adults are obese in America. On June 22, 2015, the Journal of the American College of Cardiology released the CARDA Study, which stands for Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults. The study followed 2,479 18- to 30-year-old young adults for a period of 25 years. The study found that elevated blood pressure during youth is indicative of cardiac problems during middle age. This strengthens the argument for the deadly impact of obesity on high blood pressure and heart problems later in life. Globally, 4 in 10 adults above age 25 suffer from high blood pressure, making it a leading cause of concern in the worldwide health community.

By understanding how blood pressure works, how to reduce risk and how to monitor blood pressure, as illustrated by the infographic below, you can hope to avoid additional health problems. High blood pressure can be prevented and treated first through education and awareness, and then through dietary and lifestyle changes, including possibly medication. Share this infographic with anyone you think may benefit—so that hypertension doesn’t have to be a silent killer any longer.