There are 1.13 billion people in the world suffering from high blood pressure, according to new research. The study was conducted at the Imperial College London, and it consists of an analysis of the number of people who have problems of high blood pressure.
The study was the most exhaustive of its kind, and it involved partnerships with the World Health Organization, as well as hundreds of researchers around the world. The results of the research confirm the hypothesis of a globally higher blood pressure, showing that it has almost doubled in 40 years' time.
World Wide Blood Pressure Data
The team of scientists who conducted the research analyzed data on blood pressure in every country, starting 1975, and the measurements of the study were conducted on approximately 20 million people.
The study, published in the scientific journal The Lancet, also correlates blood pressure with the income levels of the countries. The combination of these parameters showed that blood pressure has steadily and sharply dropped in the countries with high income, while in many developing or undeveloped countries it rised dramatically.
Among the most affected areas, Africa and South Asia occupied the top most, concerning places. Consequently, in Europe, the UK has the lowest number of people who experienced blood pressure in 2015. Worldwide, South Korea, the U.S. and Canada have the lowest rates of blood pressure.
High Blood Pressure Causes
The condition isn't linked to affluence, as it used to be back in 1975. There is strong correlation between poverty and high blood pressure, as seen in this research.
While there is no data to support the reasons behind these findings, scientists believe that overall better health and the habit to consume fruits and vegetables could be some of the reasons why poorer countries rank higher in this top.
Having a better health care system can spot these health issues while they are in the incipient states, thus further contributing to the overall gaps between states with significantly different incomes.
Consequently, the scientists noted that dietary habits can massively influence levels of blood pressure; insufficient food, or an unbalanced diet based on the same types of nutrients instead of diversity, could also impact the overall scores.
Within the study, Croatia registered the highest blood pressure, with an overall 38 percent of the population affected by this condition.
