World Hypertension Day happens on May 17 each year, and is a day that highlights the preventable diseases that are caused by high blood pressure, and promotes detection and treatment. World Hypertension Day has been established to highlight the preventable stroke, heart and kidney diseases caused by high blood pressure and to communicate to the public information on prevention, detection and treatment.
Hypertension is most commonly known as High Blood Pressure. It is a chronic medical condition in which the blood pressure is elevated. Many people have high blood pressure for years without knowing it. Most of the time, there are no symptoms, but when high blood pressure goes untreated, it damages arteries and vital organs throughout the body. That's why high blood pressure is often called the "silent killer".
Hypertension is high blood pressure, and it is a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke, which constitute the major causes of death in Australia. The danger of hypertension is that it is often without symptoms.