Hypertension: A Major Health Problem

High blood pressure or hypertension is a silent killer that threatens millions of people worldwide. Yet many are unaware they have the disease and are at risk of developing stroke, heart disease, blindness and kidney failure.

In American alone, 50 million people age 6 and older – or one ...High blood pressure or hypertension is a silent killer that threatens millions of people worldwide. Yet many are unaware they have the disease and are at risk of developing stroke, heart disease, blindness and kidney failure.

In American alone, 50 million people age 6 and older – or one in four adults – have hypertension and approximately two million people are diagnosed with the disease each year. High blood pressure killed 46,765 Americans in 2001 and over 54,000 in 2004.

The risk of hypertension increases as one gets older. The National Center for Health Statistics said 24 percent of people in the United States between the ages of 20 and 74 have hypertension. For men 75 years or older, the number rises to 64 percent, and for women, 77 percent. Worldwide, hypertension has been rated the fourth largest mortality risk in the world, accounting for six percent of all deaths.

Despite being a major health problem in many countries, 30 percent of people with hypertension don’t know they have the disease. Because of this, a lot of people aren’t getting the right treatment and are in danger of suffering from serious life-threatening complications.

“You can have high blood pressure (hypertension) for years without a single symptom. But silence isn't golden. Uncontrolled high blood pressure increases your risk of serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke,” according to the Mayo Clinic.

If you suspect you have hypertension, see a doctor at once. Blood pressure reduction can be achieved with several types of drugs or antihypertensive agents. To lessen your chances of developing the disease, maintain a healthy weight, be active and exercise regularly. One product that can keep you in shape is Phenocal, a safe, natural, and effective weight loss supplement that boosts your metabolism, suppresses your appetite, reduces food cravings, and increases energy levels for a leaner, healthier you. Visit http://tinyurl.com/8jkw6ma for more information.