World Hypertension Day?

I just heard about this in a News Flash from Jamaica. (I’m currently in Jamaica on my boat.)

The Heart Foundation of Jamaica celebrates World Hypertension Day on Friday, May 15, 2009. The day was designated to create awareness among the general public and to highlight the risks associated with Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) and communicate information on prevention, detection, treatment and control. This year’s theme is entitled Salt and High Blood Pressure: Two Silent Killers.

Well blow me down. A World Hypertension Day. I feel special. What next! A World-People-Addicted-To-Soap-Operas Day?’

Don’t mean to be too glib but I do wonder if this ‘World Day’ is recognised outside of Jamaica.

I suppose it’s OK to have a day to raise awareness – but for me everyday is hypertension day.

What I mean is that being predisposed to hypertension I have to adopt a lower blood pressure lifestyle every day of the year.

But that has its perks. I feel more energetic  and enjoy life more these days. Good health is the basis of true happiness.

If your worried about your blood pressure then get your own monitor and stop worrying – it’s not good for your health. If you are too high then there’s plenty of information on this blog on how to reduce it naturally without being chained to a lifetime subscription of medications.

Best wishes.

 

Update 2017:World Hypertension Day goes global!

Well, apparently World Hypertension Day is ‘celebrated’ (if that’s the word!) on the 17th of May every year in many countries. It’s organised by the World Hypertension League, which is an affiliate of International Society of Hypertension. Sounds fascinating. Though of course, it is important that more people are aware of high blood pressure and do something about it.

In the spirit of co-operation and camarederie, here are a few of my own offerings on some of the World Hypertension Day themes. (I’ve only included the ones I was able to find out online – no idea what the themes are for the other years!)

2007 theme – ‘Healthy diet, healthy blood pressure’ – Healthy blood pressure diets

2008 theme – ‘Measure your blood pressure… at home’ – Why it’s good to get your own blood pressure monitor

2009 theme – ‘Salt and High Blood Pressure: Two Silent Killers’ – Salt and high blood pressure

2010 theme – ‘Healthy weight, healthy blood pressure’ – Exercise and high blood pressure

2013 theme – ‘Healthy heart beat, healthy blood pressure’  – this theme was to highlight the problem of atrial fibrillation in hypertensives – I don’t know much about that, so here’s a post on hawthorn, an ancient and modern heart treatment – Hawthorn to lower blood pressure

2015 theme – ‘Know your blood pressure’ – Blood pressure readings – separating fact from fiction

2016 theme – ‘Know your numbers’ – this is the general theme for the next few years apparently. A little uninvigorating perhaps but it’s true – knowing your blood pressure numbers will help you understand your blood pressure and learn how to better control it. (See the posts for 2008 and 2015 for more on this.)

Good luck!

 

World Hypertension Day References

http://ish-world.com/public/world-hypertension-day.htm

https://www.health.gwjamaica.net/2009/05/13/world-hypertension-day-ii/