'Know Your Heart's Value'

Hypertension is a significant public health problem in our country, as it is widespread globally. Its incidence has increased considerably in recent times. When 140/90 mmHg is taken as the threshold value, 31.2% of the adult population in our country has hypertension; this rate is 36% in women and 30% in men. In other words, one in three adults is hypertensive. This rate increases further with age, with two out of three people in their seventies becoming hypertensive. Awareness rates of hypertension in our country are also insufficient. While there has been some improvement compared to the past, only 55% of hypertensive patients are aware that their blood pressure is high—meaning 45% of every 100 hypertensive citizens are not even aware that their blood pressure is elevated. This rate is even worse in men than in women, with 59% of men and 33% of women unaware that they have hypertension. As can be seen, a significant patient group is not even aware of their elevated blood pressure. Of course, these patients cannot receive treatment since they have not been diagnosed. The main reason for this is that hypertension has subtle symptoms. Hypertension presents general symptoms such as headaches and tinnitus, but at chronic elevation these symptoms may not appear either, leading undiagnosed patients to live without treatment. However, chronic high blood pressure is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, heart failure, cerebral hemorrhage and stroke. For this reason, it is possible to identify and treat nearly all hypertension patients and prevent many diseases that can develop from hypertension in the community. As mentioned, detecting hypertension involves measuring blood pressure. Our guidelines recommend that every adult have their blood pressure measured, know its value, and monitor it at regular intervals. If a person's blood pressure value is below 12/8, it is recommended to measure blood pressure at least once every five years; if it is between 12-13/8-8.5, at least once every three years; and if it is in the high-normal range we call 13-14/8.5-9, at least once a year. In order to increase hypertension awareness, identify individuals who have not been diagnosed and are unaware of their hypertension—in other words, to reduce the 45% figure—the Turkish Cardiology Society is launching a campaign under the slogan "Know Your Value," primarily conducted through social media. This one-year campaign aims to reach as many people as possible through social media, ensure blood pressure is measured in as many individuals as possible, identify undiagnosed hypertension patients, and ensure they receive appropriate treatment. Conducted with unconditional support from Servier İlaç ve Araştırma A.Ş., the campaign aims to reach more people on this issue and increase hypertension awareness.