According to the World Hypertension League (WHL), hypertension is a major contributor to the global epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. World Hypertension Day celebrated on 17th May every year, established by the WHL in 2005, aims to raise awareness about this silent threat and motivate global efforts to address high blood pressure.
This year’s theme encourages people to ‘Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer.’
In the South-East Asia Region alone, over 294 million people are estimated to have hypertension.