- Research from Australia has found that hypertension has been the leading risk factor for death in Australia for the past 30 years.
- Experts say the risk of death due to hypertension is likely to be similar in the United States .
- Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is referred to as the silent killer because many people are unaware they have it and do not always understand how serious the condition can be.
High blood pressure has been identified as the leading risk factor for death in Australia.
Experts say those findings are likely to be similar in the United States.
“This is consistent with what we already know in the United States. Hypertension, when inadequately treated, increases an individual’s risk for coronary artery disease, heart failure, kidney failure, stroke, peripheral artery disease, dementia, aortic aneurysms, and that’s just to start,” Dr. Parveen Garg, a cardiologist at Keck Medicine of USC in California who wasn’t involved in the research, told Medical News Today. “Considering the prevalence of hypertension, the under-recognition of this condition, the inadequate treatment of this condition, and health risks it poses, we can expect similar findings in the U.S.”
Researchers noted that Australia lags behind other higher-income countries in hypertension management.
They said dietary factors as well as use of tobacco were among the top risk factors.
Experts based in the United States say although the study looked only at the Australian experience, the data is helpful for clinicians around the world.
“As a global cardiovascular community, we are committed to improving health for everyone. To that end, more knowledge is power. Collaborative efforts to understand risk factors, interventions, and outcomes can…
Read the full article here