Virtual Medical Centre
Hypertension is defined as elevated blood pressure and is the leading cause globally of death and disability. It is the major risk factor for heart attack and stroke, and is also a significant risk factor for for chronic kidney disease and chronic heart failure. Because individuals with hypertension usually don't have any symptoms, it is a disease that is often under-diagnosed. Diagnosis relies upon routine blood pressure screening to monitor and detect affected individuals.
Hypertension is defined as elevated blood pressure and is the leading cause globally of death and disability. It is the major risk factor for heart attack and stroke, and is also a significant risk factor for for chronic kidney disease and chronic heart failure. Because individuals with hypertension usually don't have any symptoms, it is a disease that is often under-diagnosed. Diagnosis relies upon routine blood pressure screening to monitor and detect affected individuals.
In 2000, it was estimated that nearly one billion individuals worldwide were hypertensive. This figure equates to approximately 26.4% of the total global adult population.
The Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study (AusDiab) conducted in 1999–2000 reported that 30% of Australians (32% of males and 27% of females) over 25 years of age, or 3.7 million Australians, were hypertensive (blood pressure > 140/90 mmHg).
In general, males are more likely to have hypertension than females, except for between the ages of 45 and 64, when females are at equal risk to males.
The incidence of hypertension is three times higher in Indigenous Australians compared to non-indigenous Australians.
Approximately 95% of hypertension cases are classified as essential or primary hypertension, in which the underlying cause is unknown. The remaining cases are classified as secondary hypertension, in which there is an identifiable cause (e.g. renal artery stenosis).
Major studies have identified the following factors as key predisposing factors for hypertension:
•Prehypertensive systolic state (115–139 mmHg);
•Age-dependent increase in diastolic state;
•Female gender;
•Increasing BMI beyond a value of 25;
•Smoking; and
•Parenteral hypertension.
Factors that have been identified in the Australian 2008 National Heart Foundation Hypertension Guidelines include:
•Sedentary lifestyle;
•Smoking;
•Waist measurement > 94 cm in men and 80 cm in women, or BMI > 25;
•High dietary salt intake; and
•Alcohol consumption.
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