World Hypertension Day: Better blood pressure, better heart health

May 17 marks World Hypertension Day – a reminder that one of the world's most common chronic conditions remains one of the deadliest.

According to the 2024 Report on Cardiovascular Health and Diseases in China, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) continue to be the leading cause of death among the population. In 2024 alone, patients diagnosed with CVDs accounted for 42.6% of all hospital discharges, with hypertension ranking as the most prevalent condition and continuing to rise.

Often called the "silent killer," hypertension can quietly damage blood vessels, the heart and the brain long before symptoms appear. Why is high blood pressure considered the root of so many CVDs? And how much difference can well-controlled blood pressure control make?

Dr. Yang Yuejin, chief physician at the Coronary Heart Disease Center of Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, explains the hidden dangers of hypertension and shares ways to reduce the risk of heart attacks in everyday life.

Yang stresses that managing blood pressure is not just a medical goal, but a long-term safeguard for cardiovascular health. For people facing multiple risk factors such as obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes, regular checkups, healthy eating habits and early screening may be more important than ever.