HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE IS EXPECTED TO AFFECT 1.56 BLN PEOPLE BY 2025

By Soraya Jamal

KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 (Bernama) -- High blood pressure affects over one
billion people globally and the number is expected to rise to 1.56 billion
people by 2025.

It is a condition that often does not display signs or symptoms, hence it is
commonly referred to as a 'silent killer'. For this reason, many people are not
aware that they have this condition until they visit a doctor.

Hypertension, or elevated blood pressure, indicates that the heart is
working harder than normal, putting both the heart and the arteries under a
greater strain.

The Malaysian Society of Hypertension classifies hypertension as a condition
where the systolic pressure is greater than 140 mmHg or the diastolic pressure
greater than 90 mmHg. Typically, three separate abnormally high readings over a
few weeks is necessary to diagnosis this condition.

High blood pressure contributes to heart attacks, strokes, renal failure and
atherosclerosis. If the condition is left untreated or unmanaged, the heart may
have to work harder to pump enough blood and oxygen to the body's organs and
tissues to meet their needs.


AFFECTS FOUR OUT OF 10 MALAYSIAN ADULTS

In Malaysia, four out of 10 adults suffer from high blood pressure with only
26 percent of the affected people having their blood pressure under control.

The direct and indirect costs of treating high blood pressure were estimated
at RM2,719 (US$849.68) and RM7,511( US$2,347.18) respectively per patient in
2009.

In addition, up to 85 percent of patients may need multiple medications to
help control their blood pressure, underscoring the need for more effective
combination treatments. It is clearly a major public health problem.

"As doctors, this is our biggest challenge - getting blood pressure under
control in the first place and then keeping it there," said the President of the
National Heart Association of Malaysia, Professor Dr Sim Kui Hian during a media
briefing recently.

Dr Sim, who is also a consultant cardiologist said the situation creates a
strong need for new high blood pressure therapies.


CONTROLLING HYPERTENSION

Hypertension needs to be controlled throughout a person's life and can be
managed by making certain lifestyle modification or with drug therapy. Simple
lifestyle changes can help in effectively managing blood pressure levels such as
losing weight, reducing salt intake and alcohol consumption, regular exercise
and giving up smoking.

No one should take for granted on this condition as the symptoms are often
not obvious. Those who are older and have a family history of hypertension
should take precaution.

Patients with unusually high blood pressure may experience dull headaches,
dizzy spells or a few more nosebleeds than normal. However these signs and
symptoms typically don't occur until high blood pressure has reached an advanced
life-threatening stage.


DRUG THERAPY

People with hypertension now have the option of treating the disease with
Rasilez (aliskiren) - a medicine that can reduce high blood pressure
consistently over 24 hours. This is an important treatment consideration,
because many high blood pressure medicines fail to work around the clock,
especially during the early morning hours when blood pressure often surges.

With this drug, patients are provided better coverage by maintaining 91
percent of blood pressure efficacy even after missing a dose.

The drug that works alone or with other medicines has shown promising
results, even on those who have yet to achieve control with other medicines.

It works by inhibiting the RAAS (renin angiotensin aldosterone system), a
major innovation in treating high blood pressure for more than a decade. Rasilez
is an approved medicine that helps patients to reach their blood pressure goal
by controlling the RAAS.

"Novartis is proud to bring this important new medicine to fight against
this damaging and rapidly increasing disease," chief executive officer Novartis
Corporation (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Avinash Potnis said.
-- BERNAMA


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