Measure your blood pressure because it's worth it! - is the main message of the 19th edition of Servier's nationwide prevention and education campaign for the Heart, which this year is entirely dedicated to building awareness and education towards the health benefits of controlling and properly treating hypertension. "Go for the record. Win against hypertension" is the slogan accompanying this year's campaign.
Hypertension - a real threat to life
Hypertension is a combination of environmental and genetic factors. Environmental factors include lack of physical activity, obesity, an unhealthy diet high in salt and sugar, stress, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and poor sleep quality. It is an insidious condition as it may not cause any symptoms for many years and the first non-specific warning signs are usually ignored by patients. BP increases with age - in men it starts to develop at 30-40 years of age, in women it usually develops at 40-60 years of age. This is a good time to start systematic blood pressure monitoring.
The results of the 2021 study, carried out by Imperial College London and the World Health Organisation (WHO), indicate that the number of hypertensive patients worldwide has doubled from 650 million in 1990 to 1.28 billion in 2019. At the same time, it is worth noting that more than 700 million people are living with untreated hypertension.
According to data from the National Health Fund, almost 10 million adult Poles were diagnosed with hypertension in 2018, representing 31.5% of the population living in our country. Statistically, therefore, one in three adult Poles struggles with elevated blood pressure. Due to the lack of characteristic symptoms, many people remain undiagnosed, so it is estimated that the problem of hypertension currently affects 12 million Poles.
Given the difficulties and restrictions in accessing healthcare caused by the pandemic, which has lasted for more than two years, it is reasonable to assume that the resulting health debt in the area of cardiology has resulted in an increase in the number of patients with hypertension. It is estimated - and these are estimates even before the pandemic - that by 2035 the number of hypertensive patients will have increased by half. Globally, 29.2% of the adult population, or 1.56 billion people, will suffer from the disease in 2025.
"Early detection of hypertension is key in the further management of the patient. Unfortunately, very often, especially at the beginning, the disease is not accompanied by any symptoms or they are so non-specific that they do not arouse suspicion, put the patient's vigilance to sleep or are even underestimated by him. Consequently, it is sometimes the case that the first symptom of hypertension is a heart attack or stroke. Often, at the time of diagnosis, organ complications such as myocardial hypertrophy, vascular lesions or renal dysfunction are already present in the patient. These reduce life expectancy, contribute to a reduction in quality of life and have a significant social cost." - explains Professor Aleksander Prejbisz, M.D. - Chairman of the Board of the Polish Hypertension Society, chief subject matter expert for the 19th edition of the Servier for Heart campaign. "Most often we forget that the simplest way to avoid health complications is prevention and the associated early detection and subsequent elimination of commonly known risk factors. Measuring your blood pressure regularly is the easiest way to find out whether your values are elevated and whether it is time for a cardiology consultation, which can protect you from the dangerous consequences of untreated high blood pressure." - adds Professor Aleksander Prejbisz.
The treatment of hypertension consists of lifestyle modifications to achieve a reduction in blood pressure values, without which the effectiveness of pharmacotherapy is sometimes limited. The second element of management is precisely pharmacological treatment with hypotensive drugs. The Polish Hypertension Society states that the primary goal of therapy for patients with hypertension is to reduce mortality and the global risk of cardiovascular and renal complications.
"Hypertension is one of the most prevalent conditions in the world, which is categorised as a disease of civilisation. . At the same time, due to the wide availability of good blood pressure-lowering drugs, it is a chronic disease that can be successfully kept under control. It is worth remembering, however, that the effectiveness of therapy is largely based on patient-doctor cooperation, mutual trust and the responsibility of the patients themselves." - emphasises Jacek Wolf, MD, President Elect of the Polish Hypertension Society. "The diagnosis of hypertension and the initiation of its therapy requires the patient to make lifestyle changes, modify eating habits and increase physical activity. However, it is usually necessary to include pharmacotherapy in addition to non-pharmacological measures. Keeping with the efficacy criterion, the patient's expectations should be taken into account when choosing treatment. We have a range of effective hypotensive drugs to choose from - many are now available in combinations in a single tablet (SPC i.e. 2 or 3 drugs from different groups with complementary mechanisms of action). Such a regimen, intended for once-daily use in the majority of hypertensive patients, facilitates adherence and control of blood pressure values for many years." - adds doc. Jacek Wolf.
Servier Cardiology Clinic on the road again
"Seemingly, it might seem that everything is already known about hypertension and that the condition is well recognised in society. However, as clinical experts point out, it is still one of the most common cardiovascular risk factors, and due to its often asymptomatic course, it often remains undiagnosed and thus untreated, resulting in life-threatening health and life-threatening complications." – points out Ewa Ciepałowicz, CSR and Internal Communication Manager of Servier Polska, representative of the organiser of the Servier for Heart prevention and education campaign. "Recognising the ongoing need to raise public awareness of risk factors for cardiovascular conditions, in this year's Servier for Heart campaign we are focusing our attention on the prevention of hypertension. In collaboration with experts, we are undertaking education and information activities, including pointing out the health benefits of controlling and properly treating hypertension. I am delighted that after the difficult period of the pandemic for everyone, we can partially return with our campaign to the stationary formula, offering free preventive examinations and cardiological consultations in various corners of Poland. In addition, this year we are going for a record - we are attempting to set a Polish and Guinness World Record for self-measurement of blood pressure in a specific time. In this way, we want to prove that measuring blood pressure is not difficult and its control is extremely important in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases." - adds Ewa Ciepałowicz.
As part of the Servier for Heart campaign, residents of 6 cities in Poland (Bydgoszcz, Zabrze, Rzeszów, Lublin, Białystok and Warsaw) will be able to benefit from free preventive examinations for cardiovascular diseases: measurement of blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol levels and BMI (body mass index). In justified cases, there will also be an opportunity to receive a cardiological consultation and ECG examination of the heart.
Piotr Gruszka - Ambassador, record-holder
Piotr Gruszka, a volleyball player, coach and record-holder in terms of the number of matches played in the Polish national team, became the ambassador of the 19th edition of the campaign. "I am very happy that my paths are crossing again with the Servier for the Heart campaign. 8 years ago, I had the pleasure of supporting the 12th edition of the campaign and the educational programme Mum, Dad, let's take care of the heart! on the prevention of cardiovascular disease, aimed at primary school children. This year, I would like to once again draw attention to the aspect of physical activity, emphasising that sport is not only about feeling good and having a slim figure, but above all it is a preventive measure against most diseases - including hypertension. I encourage you to do even the simplest of exercises, such as walking or marching, because it really is worth it!" - convinces this year's Ambassador, Piotr Gruszka
Go for the record. Win against high blood pressure!
As part of this year's Servier for Heart, an attempt will be made to set a Guinness World Record and a Polish Record for the highest number of simultaneous self-measurements of blood pressure. The attempt to set both records aims to highlight the importance and ease with which self-monitoring can be carried out, including at home. The event will take place 6 October (Thursday), in Warsaw at the Stodoła club (10 Stefana Batorego Street) at 12:00 p.m.. Anyone over the age of 18 can become a participant in this unusual challenge. No pre-registration is required (entrance to the event venue from 11am).
This year's campaign was supported by the Polish Cardiac Society and the Polish Hypertension Society.
The campaign has received patronage from: Nationwide Association of Patients with Heart and Vascular Diseases ECOSerce, Polish Association of People with Heart Failure and the Institute for Patient Rights and Health Education.
OMRON is a partner in the attempt to set the Guinness World Record and the Polish Record for the highest number of simultaneous self-measurements of blood pressure.
Read more about the campaign at www.dbajoserce.pl, www.facebook.com/dbajoserce and www.instagram.com/dbajoserce.