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More Than Half of People With This Serious Heart Health Risk Don’t Even Know They Have It, New Study Says
EatingWell • • health
Key Points:
- A study published in BMJ Public Health analyzed data from over 1.4 million UK adults and found that 37.2% had hypertension, with 58.8% of those unaware of their condition, highlighting the silent nature of high blood pressure.
- Undetected hypertension was more common in men (33.2%) than women (21.2%), and factors such as higher BMI, smoking, alcohol use, and family history of heart disease were linked to increased hypertension risk.
- Among those treated for hypertension, 50.2% still had uncontrolled blood pressure, underscoring challenges in effective management and treatment.
- The study’s findings support the "rule of halves," indicating that about half of people with hypertension are unaware of it, and half of those treated do not achieve control, emphasizing the need for regular screening and monitoring.
- Experts recommend routine blood pressure checks, heart-healthy lifestyle habits, managing risk factors, and preventive care to detect and control hypertension and reduce related health risks such as heart disease and stroke.
