New Delhi, May 16 (IANS). Today, when we are celebrating the 21st World Hypertension Day on 17th May 2026, but do you know that every year about 11 lakh people in India lose their lives just because the blood pressure in their veins is too high. It is not just a disease but has become the biggest ‘public health emergency’ of our times.
World Hypertension Day is celebrated every year on 17 May because it was first established on this date in the year 2006 by the ‘World Hypertension League’ (WHL). Its main objective is to make people aware about the dangers and prevention of high blood pressure, which is considered the ‘silent killer’.
Doctors call it ‘silent killer’. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), if your blood pressure continuously remains at 140/90 mmHg or above, then you have become a victim of it. Its most dangerous aspect is that initially no symptoms (such as headache or dizziness) are visible.
Perhaps this is the reason why according to a 2024 report by WHO, out of about 1.4 billion (140 crore) adults worldwide suffering from high BP, about 44 percent (about 60 crore people) remain completely unaware of it. By the time they become aware of it, a situation like heart attack, brain stroke or kidney failure has already occurred.
WHO says that one should not consume more than 5 grams (one teaspoon) of salt in a day. However, our spicy foods and packaged snacks are flooding our veins with sodium, causing BP to skyrocket.
Sitting on a chair for hours and continuously increasing mental stress fills our body with stress hormones like ‘cortisol’. Recent research shows that not only bad food, but also toxic particles (PM2.5) present in the air are directly increasing BP by shrinking our veins.
Amidst so much disappointment there is also good news. High BP is not incurable. The global theme of World Hypertension Day for the year 2026 is “Control High Blood Pressure Together”. This simply means that this fight is no longer just about the doctor. The family will have to work together to reduce salt in their food, go for a walk together and make a medication regimen.
The Government of India’s ‘Indian Hypertension Control Initiative’ (IHCI) is now providing free and accurate medicines (like amlodipine) to patients at government centers in more than 100 districts of the country. This year the month of May is being celebrated as ‘May Measurement Month’ (MMM). There is an unprecedented wave of health awareness in Delhi-NCR.
If you are traveling in Delhi Metro, you can get your BP checked for free at special kiosks installed at metro stations. Big hospitals like AIIMS, Safdarjung, Max and Sarvodaya are organizing mega screening camps, where ways to improve lifestyle are being taught.
–IANS
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