"Hypertension Linked to Rising Global Death Toll"

Hypertension Leads to Rising Deaths, Experts Warn
Saturday, March 1, 2025

Experts warn that one in five individuals suffering from hypertension can only control the condition with proper treatment, while those unaware of their condition or failing to take urgent measures are at risk of strokes.

Dar es Salaam – Despite the well-known signs of hypertension, health professionals have pointed out that many people do not exhibit clear symptoms to indicate high blood pressure unless monitored through specific tests.

According to specialists, identifying high blood pressure based on how a person feels is difficult.
"Often, individuals assume that symptoms such as headaches, nosebleeds, dizziness, fatigue, and other general signs are caused by hypertension. However, these symptoms do not necessarily confirm the presence of high blood pressure, as one can have these and still have normal blood pressure," explained Dr. Tasekeen Khan, a cardiologist at the World Health Organization (WHO).

However, if high blood pressure leads to complications such as a heart attack, heart failure, or stroke, individuals might experience symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, headaches, confusion, difficulty speaking, blurred vision, and weakness or paralysis on one side of the body or face.

Dr. Tasekeen emphasized that hypertension is the leading cause of premature death globally and explained why the condition is referred to as the "silent killer."
"It is called the 'silent killer' because there are no visible symptoms, which is why the condition affects one in three adults worldwide. Of every five individuals with hypertension, only one can control the condition with proper treatment," Dr. Tasekeen added.

Professor Harun Nyagori, a senior consultant in internal medicine and cardiology at the Jakaya Kikwete Heart Institute (JKCI), stressed the importance of health screenings since many individuals with high blood pressure are unaware of their condition early on.
"Hypertension can often go unnoticed because it doesn’t show symptoms in most people. The real issue arises when people fail to recognize their condition. By the time they are diagnosed, they may already be dealing with complications like diabetes, heart attacks, and kidney failure," said Professor Nyagori.

He further highlighted challenges in patient management, including many failing to follow prescribed treatment regimens and stopping medication before completing the full course.
"Others disregard health advice such as reducing salt intake, excessive alcohol consumption, stress management, and regular exercise," said Professor Nyagori.
"Some individuals also refuse to acknowledge the severity of hypertension, holding onto misconceptions or turning to traditional remedies rather than seeking proper medical attention."

The Scope of the Issue
A report on specialized medical services provided in 184 council hospitals under the Samia Specialist Doctors Programme, which ran from May to July 2024, revealed that 34% of those attending the clinics had hypertension.
Of the 70,000 patients seen at the camp, 22,057 presented with internal medicine-related issues, with 7,529 (34%) suffering from hypertension, followed by digestive system problems affecting 4,158 patients (9%).

Dr. Peter Kisenge, Executive Director of JKCI, told Mwananchi that the number of patients seeking healthcare for hypertension is alarmingly high compared to other medical conditions in the community.
"When we conduct outreach in communities, we gather similar statistics. At JKCI, 30% of the patients we see have hypertension, and in the community outreach camps, we find that 25% of individuals have it," said Dr. Kisenge, urging the public to adopt healthier lifestyles.

Hypertension is a growing global health concern and a major contributor to mortality and disability, including heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure.

According to a report from the WHO, published by the Population Reference Bureau (PRB), the number of people living with hypertension doubled between 1990 and 2019, rising from 650 million to 1.3 billion.
An investigation into 87 behavioral, environmental, occupational, and metabolic risk factors found that hypertension is the leading cause of premature death worldwide, with an estimated 10.8 million deaths each year. This surpasses other major risk factors like tobacco use and high blood sugar.

Currently, only 54% of adults aged 30–79 with hypertension are diagnosed, 42% receive treatment, and 21% have their condition under control.