World Health Day is celebrated on 7 April each year to mark the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization in 1948. The theme this year is hypertension, also known as high or raised blood pressure.
The slogan for this year's campaign is "Healthy Heart Beat, Healthy Blood Pressure”. Atrial fibrillation (arrhythmias) is very common in people with hypertension, especially among older patients.
High blood pressure is a major risk factor for stroke, coronary heart disease, and heart and kidney failure. The higher the pressure, the greater the risk and lower the expectation of life.
Intensive research carried out over the past few years, aiming to control hypertension at the community level, has already provided valuable results. Studies have shown that control of hypertension in a population is feasible through the existing system of health services in different countries. Controlling blood pressure reduces complications caused by high blood pressure.
Many people with high blood pressure in developing countries remain undiagnosed and so miss out on treatment that could significantly reduce their risk of death and disability from heart disease and stroke.
The ultimate goal of World Health Day 2013 is to reduce the number of heart attacks and strokes. The campaign aims to:
- raise awareness of the causes and consequences of high blood pressure
- provide information on how to prevent high blood pressure and related complications
- encourage adults to check their blood pressure and follow the advice of health-care professionals
- encourage self-care to prevent high blood pressure
- make blood pressure measurement affordable to all
- incite national and local authorities to create enabling environments for healthy behaviours.
Related links
Regional Director Message
World Health Day 2013
Global data on Hypertension
World Health Day is celebrated on 7 April each year to mark the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization in 1948. The theme this year is hypertension, also known as high or raised blood pressure.
The slogan for this year's campaign is "Healthy Heart Beat, Healthy Blood Pressure”. Atrial fibrillation (arrhythmias) is very common in people with hypertension, especially among older patients.
High blood pressure is a major risk factor for stroke, coronary heart disease, and heart and kidney failure. The higher the pressure, the greater the risk and lower the expectation of life.
Intensive research carried out over the past few years, aiming to control hypertension at the community level, has already provided valuable results. Studies have shown that control of hypertension in a population is feasible through the existing system of health services in different countries. Controlling blood pressure reduces complications caused by high blood pressure.
Many people with high blood pressure in developing countries remain undiagnosed and so miss out on treatment that could significantly reduce their risk of death and disability from heart disease and stroke.
The ultimate goal of World Health Day 2013 is to reduce the number of heart attacks and strokes. The campaign aims to:
- raise awareness of the causes and consequences of high blood pressure
- provide information on how to prevent high blood pressure and related complications
- encourage adults to check their blood pressure and follow the advice of health-care professionals
- encourage self-care to prevent high blood pressure
- make blood pressure measurement affordable to all
- incite national and local authorities to create enabling environments for healthy behaviours.
Related links
Regional Director Message
World Health Day 2013
Global data on Hypertension
