Apunte 5
Apunte 5
Apunte 5
Several surveys from many countries around the world pointed out that the public’s
awareness of their blood pressure levels was very poor (1–9). Even in highly developed,
resource-rich countries with high-quality health carse systems, such as Canada, awareness
of hypertension was only 58% (8). As many of the developing countries transition from
infectious to degenerative chronic diseases, the prevalence of hypertension is increasing
(10). At the same time, public awareness of hypertension in these low- and middle-income
countries is quite dismal (11). The 2002 World Health Report (12) stated that hypertension
is the leading cause of death worldwide.
Epidemiological studies (13–15) have clearly shown that hypertension is a ‘silent killer’,
with no warning signs. Therefore, knowing that one’s blood pressure is elevated allows
that individual to take some action to mitigate the rising blood pressure, thus preventing
potential end-organ damage, including myocardial infarction, kidney failure and
cerebrovascular stroke. There is, however, a continued myth among most of the world’s
population – among both the well educated and the less educated – that not knowing the
condition is ‘bliss’. On the contrary, a number of studies have shown that early diagnosis
and treatment of hypertension leads to better quality of life and increased longevity.
El 20 de mayo se celebra el Día Mundial de las Abejas, declarado por la ONU para
tomar consciencia del papel de los polinizadores.