Hypertension - Research Paper Example

Alternatively, there are anti-hypertensive’s drugs to normalize blood pressure levels. It’s very important for individuals to go for a regular medical check up to avoid damage of blood vessels by hypertension. Hypertension Introduction Hypertension, also referred to as high blood pressure has affected a majority of individuals across the globe. It is the principal cause of kidney and cardiovascular diseases and in combination with diabetes; it has been associated with more than half of all deaths in the world (Hypertension often ignored, 1997).

Despite its severity and prevalence, if left untreated, high blood pressure is a disease that is extremely unpredictable. Of those suffering hypertension, it is only seventy percent (70%) who are aware of their condition. Accordingly, 59% seeks treatment and 34% have been perceived to have the condition under some control. The major problem being experienced is that, hypertension’s specific linking factors to heart and kidney diseases are not fully discovered. Hypertension has no clearly defined symptoms, which makes many people to continue leading risky lifestyles even after developing the condition.

It can only be detected when it has damaged the blood vessels to the extent of producing devastating symptoms. For this reason, individuals are advised to check their blood pressure regularly. Life style changes with interventional approaches such as exercise, salt restriction, relaxation and the utilization of pharmaceutical products will help in increasing life expectancy of those individuals affected with the condition (Hansson, 1996). These interventions are significant as they help in dilating the artery to decrease blood pressure.

The purpose of this paper is to document current statistics of individuals affected with the condition, document how different body systems are affected by the condition and illustrate any treatment/ medications available for dealing with the condition. Statistics of Individuals Affected With Hypertension According to the world Health Statistic (2012), there is a growing concern across the globe on the spread of communicable diseases. This report notes that one in three grownups in the world views hypertension as the principle cause of deaths resulting from heart failure or stroke.

Widespread treatment and diagnosis with low cost medication in high-income countries have resulted to the reduction of mean high blood pressure across populations. Furthermore, this has significantly reduced the number of deaths as a result of heart diseases. However, in Africa, more than forty percent (40%) of adults in numerous countries are approximated to have been diagnosed with high blood pressure. A majority of these individuals remain undiagnosed even though the condition can be treated with low-cost medications.

Given the fact that the average prevalence of hypertension in the world is approximately 10%, about one third of pacific Island countries population has been diagnosed with this condition. Left untreated, hypertension can damage the body severely and result in certain death. In the United States, about 76.4 million people aged twenty and above suffer from hypertension. According to the High Blood Pressure 2012 Statistical Fact Sheet, high blood pressure is the principal cause of death among the American populace.

For instance, in 2008, 61,005 Americans died from the disease. As from 1998-2008, individuals