Saudi Arabia: 1 in 4 adults affected by hypertension

Cairo: Some 24.5% of people aged 18 years and older in Saudi Arabia suffer from high blood pressure , according to findings of an official study.

Hypertension is a condition in which the blood force against the walls of arteries is consistently too high, pressuring the heart to work harder to pump blood.

Labelled the "silent killer" due to rarely shown symptoms, high blood pressure can increase risks of heart disease and stroke, if not treated.

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A research carried out by the Saudi Ministry of Health employing UN methods indicated an improvement in the total percentage of individuals who take medications for managing hypertension within the country.

The findings indicated discrepancies based on gender when it comes to accessing treatment. A notably higher percentage of women received care for hypertension at 57%, as opposed to just 41% amongst men.

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The pace at which individuals gained access to treatment was observed to rise as they got older.

Although the percentage stayed below 18% among individuals aged 30-39, it gradually climbed to 40% within the 40-49 bracket, surged to 58% for the 50-59 cohort, and reached 66% for the 60-69 segment before reaching its zenith at 81% for the 70-79 demographic.

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Meanwhile, the research highlighted considerable discrepancies in the treatment coverage rates throughout the nation, which has a population of 35.3 million inhabitants.

In the southwestern part of Al Baha, the highest treatment coverage was noted at 87%, closely trailed by Najran with 77%, then Riyadh with 63%, and finally Mecca with 59%.

Factors that increase the likelihood of developing high blood pressure encompass advanced age, hereditary influences, being overweight or obese, insufficient exercise, consuming too much salt, and overindulging in alcoholic beverages.