Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a very common ailment that many people live with. If you have it, you will have it for the rest of your life so it needs to be consistently managed. Hypertension is a chronic disease. It can be controlled with medication, but it cannot be cured.

World Hypertension day is celebrated every year on May 17th. The main aim of the day is to educate the public and increase awareness of this disease. The theme for this year is Know Your Numbers, and the World Hypertension League would like to encourage as many people as possible to get involved in May Measurement Month.

It is considered normal when your blood pressure is lower than 120/80 mm Hg. Elevated blood pressure is when the top number ranges from 120 to 129 mm Hg and the bottom number is below, not above, 80 mm Hg. Stage 1 hypertension is when the top number ranges from 130 to 139 mm Hg or the bottom number is between 80 and 89 mm Hg. And Stage 2 hypertension is when the top number is 140 mm Hg or higher or the bottom number is 90 mm Hg or higher. Blood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury (mm Hg). In general, hypertension is a blood pressure reading of 130/80 mm Hg or higher.

If left untreated, hypertension can cause life-threatening issues such as heart failure, heart attack, stroke, vision loss, and kidney disease, to name a few. The best defence is prevention. Get your blood pressure checked, ‘Know Your Numbers’, and try to lead a healthy lifestyle by maintaining a healthy weight, reducing your salt intake, exercising, limiting the amount of alcohol you consume, quit smoking, get a good nights sleep, and reduce stress. Getting a massage on a regular basis can also help as it relaxes your body and mind and can help to lower your blood pressure by improving blood circulation.