About 30 million Mexicans Suffer from High Blood Pressure

The Ministry of Health estimates that one out of every four Mexicans suffers from high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, but about 46 percent of them are unaware of it. According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), 30 million Mexicans suffer from this disease, representing about 24.9 percent and 26.1 percent of the male and female population, respectively.  

The country sees about 50,000 deaths per year due to this disease. High blood pressure can be caused by a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, diabetes, excessive alcohol intake, bad diet, smoking tobacco, high cholesterol, genetic and ethnic conditions and the use of contraceptives. Its most common symptoms include headaches, ringing in the ear, nausea, vomiting, recurrent nosebleeds and, in the most severe phase, tiredness, confusion, anxiety, chest pain and muscle tremors. However, there are no symptoms at the first stages, which is one of the main reasons many people do not know they suffer from this disease.  

The World Health Organization (WHO) states that the Americas has the lowest prevalence of hypertension (18 percent) and over 1.6 million deaths due to cardiovascular diseases. In those under 70 years old, deaths caused by hypertension are considered to be premature and avoidable but they represent about 500,000 yearly cases. 

Hypertension is diagnosed through two different readings: a daily systolic blood pressure reading equal or higher than 140mmHg and/or a diastolic blood pressure reading equal or higher than 90mmHg on two days. Evaluation by a health professional is also important. The evaluation is quick and painless and, while there are home-use devices, a professional assessment of risk and associated conditions is critical for the patient. 

High blood pressure affects especially low-income countries. Canada and Switzerland, for example, have the lowest rate of hypertension globally. The Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Paraguay are some of the countries with the highest rates of hypertension worldwide, according to a study made by the Imperial College of London and WHO, published in The Lancet. The study analyzed data from 1990 to 2019 and covered more than 100 million people in the ages between 30 and 79 years old from 184 different countries. 

In Mexico, the Ministry of Health recommends that adults over 40 years old have an annual blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose tests to prevent any anomalies that may present without symptoms during the first stages.