Every May 17 is celebrated as World Hypertension Day, an initiative supported by the World Health Organization, with the aim of raising awareness about the prevention, detection and control of high blood pressure.
This year, its slogan is: “Measure your blood pressure accurately, control it, live longer.” This message emphasizes the importance of regular and accurate blood pressure measurements as a fundamental step in the early detection and effective management of this condition.
Hypertension is known as the “silent killer,” affects millions of people worldwide and is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease, stroke and kidney failure. According to the WHO, 46% of adults with hypertension are unaware that they have it, and only one in five have the disease under control.
Factors such as age, family history, overweight, excessive salt intake, physical inactivity, stress and lack of sleep increase the risk of developing hypertension. For this reason, the Specialized Health Unit of the Universidad Industrial de Santander, UISALUD, recommends adopting healthy lifestyles, regular physical activity and regular blood pressure control.
On this day, we call on the university community to become aware of the importance of prevention and control of these diseases.
