Adulthood: monitoring and managing high blood pressure

Globally, the overall prevalence of high blood pressure in adults aged ≥25 years was around 40% in 2008. Prevalence in adults in the European Region varies widely, however, with levels above the global average in a large number of countries.

A large proportion of the population has high blood pressure but is not yet considered to be hypertensive. This shows the importance being aware of one’s blood pressure and taking steps to reduce it before reaching the advanced stage of hypertension.

The proportion of people living with hypertension increases with age, from 1 in 10 people in their 20s and 30s, to 5 in 10 in their 50s. Adulthood is a life stage that demands consistent, reliable monitoring of blood pressure and access to services to help people make the necessary lifestyle changes to improve their blood pressure. These changes include:

• eating a healthy diet;
• reducing salt intake;
• exercising regularly;
• stopping smoking;
• reducing alcohol consumption;
• managing stress; and
• having regular blood pressure checks.