International Hypertension Report Calls for Increased Awareness of Childhood Hypertension

We’ve already discussed how hypertension is a costly drain on worldwide health care systems and society in general, but this cost is only based on adult hypertension.  A recently published report advocates improving the awareness, identification, and treatment of pediatric hypertension and clearly describes the implications of continuing to neglect this problem in the pediatric population.  The prevalence of hypertension in children is about 3-5% of the population, but as obesity continues to rise in children, high blood pressure will likely increase making it even more important to raise the awareness of pediatric hypertension. 

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CMEF 2010: China and Growing Awareness of Hypertension

Earlier this year we wrote a blog post about the similarities of current healthcare challenges in both China and the US. Of particular note was the fact that Hypertension is the leading cause of premature deaths in China. We recently had an opportunity to meet and speak with many folks involved with the delivery of healthcare in this rapidly evolving market at the China Medical Equipment Fair (CMEF) held in Shenzhen April 18 - 21, 2010.

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Preeclampsia: Pregnancy and Hypertension

An important health issue that expectant mothers may encounter during pregnancy is Preeclampsia, a condition in which the expectant mother is diagnosed with hypertension and has protein present in the urine. Preeclampsia is the most common medical disorder of pregnancy and affects 10%-12% of all expectant mothers (Pickering et al, 2005). Since blood pressure plays an important role in the health of mom and baby, accurate blood pressure measurement is extremely critical, because one would never want to be misdiagnosed with hypertension and be prescribed medications/medical interventions that could potentially injure both mom and baby.

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Blood Pressure Fluctuations: 'Warning Sign for Stroke'

Last week we addressed a report from the Institute of Medicine indicating that high blood pressure is not on the minds of the general public. However, in the most recent issue of the Lancet, a different view of hypertension was posted: what if your physician is looking at the wrong BP values? What if there is more to clinic blood pressure, or the measurement that your physician takes, than the average value?

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Report Indicates US Neglects Hypertension

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a report last week recommending strategies to address the "neglected disease" of hypertension in the US. Many people do not realize that high blood pressure is one of the leading causes of death in the US, and it is a risk factor for heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure. One in three US adults has hypertension, and less than half of them have it in control, resulting in an estimated cost of $76 billion in 2010.

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ABPM Used to Identify Masked Hypertension in Children with Chronic Kidney Disease

A recent article published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN)¹ emphasizes the key role of 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) as a means to identify masked hypertension in pediatric patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). The study, published in January 2010, showed that many children with CKD who have normal blood pressure readings at the doctor's office often have high blood pressure readings at home.

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Life's Simple 7 Heart Health Factors

Blood Pressure is one of the American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7 factors included in the My Life Check to help Americans assess and improve their heart health. Small changes in any of the 7 categories lead to improved heart health. Check out your Heart Score today!

Hypertension in China presents similar challenges seen in the U.S.

I recently read an article indicating hypertension - or high blood pressure - as the leading preventable cause of premature deaths in China. As I was reading, it made me realize how similar healthcare issues in China and the U.S. truly are...

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February 5th is National Wear Red Day

Wear Red Day was created to raise awareness about the risk factors of heart disease, specifically for women. It is the #1 killer of American women, even surpassing deaths resulting from all forms of cancer. The Heart Truth provides tools for women to prevent and control risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity. Available materials to help women reduce their risk of heart disease include an Action plan, Heart Health Handbook, and a Heart Health Cookbook. To find out more about National Wear Red Day, check out The Heart Truth website and program overview.

®National Wear Red Day is a registered trademark of HHS and AHA. 

Learn why hypertension is called the 'silent killer'

Nearly 1 in 3 adult Americans have it.  African Americans are especially at risk.  Learn why hypertension is called the 'silent killer'.

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