In a special report, part of a global forum in recognition of World Kidney Day on March 11 published in its March issue of American Journal of Kidney Diseases, (the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation), researchers project a likely increase in global hypertension rates to 29% by 2025.

Hypertension, urbanization and use of modern conveniences are major health problems affecting a quarter of the world’s adult population that is being critically noted.

Dr. Kerry Willis, Senior Vice President of Scientific Activities of the National Kidney Foundation says, “Hypertension is a leading cause of death and disability around the world. Major complications include kidney failure, cardiovascular disease and stroke– all largely preventable conditions.”

In these studies, hypertension was defined as a blood pressure reading of 140/90. Data from fourteen separate studies of a total of 160,000 people, from China, India, Pakistan, Egypt, Ghana, Mexico, Paraguay, Latin America and the U.S. and other countries, were examined on the prevalence of hypertension.

In a number of the studies the adoption of an unhealthy lifestyle that included changes from conventional high fiber rural diets to those loaded with salt, saturated fat and low quality carbohydrates, also includes low birth weight, lack of awareness and lack of access to medical care. Increased income had improved the quality of life, but lead to urbanization, reduced physical activity due to sedentary jobs, and occupations that add to increased hypertension risk.

Source-Medindia
TRI