Why Is World Getting Angrier? …Rising Blood Pressure?
Why is the number of those who feel restless increasing? Why do people lose their temper so fast? Why is it that despite leading a very moderate life a person becomes a victim of a sudden stroke or kidney failure?
“The numbers are a shock: Almost 1 billion people worldwide have high blood pressure, and over half a billion more will harbor this silent killer by 2025,” says Lauran Neergaard, AP Medical Writer.
“It’s not just a problem for the ever-fattening Western world. Even in parts of Africa, high blood pressure is becoming common.
“That translates into millions of deaths from heart disease alone. Yet hypertension doesn’t command the attention of, say, bird flu, which so far has killed fewer than 200 people.
” “Even in the U.S., the majority of people with high blood pressure are not treated adequately,’ says Dr. Sidney Smith of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, who advises the World Heart Federation. ‘Look at China, look at Africa, go around the world. It is a major risk factor.’
“The U.S. still needs to improve, too, Dr. Michael Weber (co-author of the report) hastens to add. High blood pressure affects nearly one in three adult Americans as well, or 72 million people. About a third have their condition well-controlled, not nearly enough but better than other countries that track treatment, the report found.
“Normal blood pressure is measured at less than 120 over 80. Anyone can get high blood pressure, a level of 140 over 90 or more. But being overweight and inactive, and eating too much salt, all increase the risk. So does getting older…”
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