Factsheet - World Hypertension Day 2023

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a condition which generally has no symptoms and if left untreated, can lead to heart attacks, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure and blindness.

Risk factors include older age, overweight or obesity, lack of physical activity, high salt/sodium intake, and high alcohol intake.

Hypertension affects around 1 in 6 adults in the Americas and is the main risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, which are the leading cause of death in the region, responsible for around 2 million lives lost each year.