“Measure your blood pressure accurately, control it and live much longer!” is the slogan chosen this 2023 to increase awareness of high blood pressure in all countries and the accurate methods of its measurement.

In this regard, strengthening primary health care services, as well as policies to reduce salt consumption and foster a healthier diet and do more physical activities, are key to deal with hypertension.

While hypertension affects 180 million people in the Americas (18% of adults) it often has absolutely no symptoms nor signs and is therefore frequently undiagnosed and untreated.

“This is serious because undiagnosed and uncontrolled hypertension can lead to heart attack, heart failure or stroke,” Barbosa added.

According to specialist, hypertension –or high blood pressure – is the primary risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which is the main cause of premature death in the Region, responsible for around two million lives lost each year.

Yet in the Americas over one-third of men and a quarter of women with hypertension (aged 30 to 79 years) are unaware they have the condition.

And of those who are aware they have hypertension and receive treatment, only a third (36%) have it under control.

The PAHO Director highlighted that countries must “intensify the scale-up and ensure equitable access to care for hypertension,” and provide training to ensure the latest approaches for diagnosis and treatment are practiced in primary health clinics across the Americas.

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