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Blood pressure is the force of blood against the wall of the arteries. Blood pressure rise and falls during the day, but when it stays high over time it is called high blood pressure. High blood pressure is dangerous because it makes the heart works too hard and can contribute to having a stroke, ischaemic heart disease and renal failure. High blood pressure can also result in other conditions, such as congestive heart failure, kidney disease, and blindness. A blood pressure level of 140/90 mmHg or higher is considered high.
The causes of high blood pressure vary, it may include narrowing of the arteries, a greater than normal volume of blood, or the heart beating faster or more forcefully than it should. Any of these conditions will cause increased pressure against the artery walls. High blood pressure might also be caused by another medical problem. Most of the time, the cause is not known and although high blood pressure usually cannot be cured, in most cases it can be prevented and controlled.
This study estimates the burden of disease attributable to high blood pressure in adults of 30 years and older in South Africa in 2000 using the comparative risk assessment methodology developed by the WHO. View the results. (pdf format, 285 kb) |
