Category: high blood pressure

Confronting the Silent Killer in Nepal

May Measurement Month volunteers screen local resident outside of a temple in Pokhara, Nepal. Photo credit: Kiran Adhikari

“We are measuring the blood pressure of many people who’ve never had their blood pressure measured before,” explains Dr. Dinesh Neupane, the country coordinator for May Measurement Month in Nepal. “When we approach people about being screened, we often hear that they don’t need their blood pressure checked because they feel healthy.” But Dr. Neupane Read More >

Posted on by Bethany HallTags , , , ,

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, has become a global crisis

Patient at the Edgar Cochrane Polyclinic in Barbados having her blood pressure taken.

In the United States, 67 million or 1 in 3 adults have high blood pressure (>140/90 mmHg), and only about half of these adults have their condition under control. Worldwide, high blood pressure is estimated to cause 9 million preventable deaths, and is expected to increase. Commonly referred to as the “silent killer” because it Read More >

Posted on by Pragna Patel, MD, MPH (CGH) and Barbara A. Bowman, PhD (NCCDPHP)1 CommentTags , ,

My journey into Global Health: Dr. Pragna Patel

Dr. Pragna Patel says “Taking the road less travelled and working for CDC on HIV and NCD has been a worthwhile journey” As a young girl growing up in New York City, I would often help out at my father’s pediatric clinic in an indigent neighborhood of the Bronx.  My father was a caring and Read More >

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March 10-16 Is World Salt Awareness Week

Grocery store

  This blog was originally posted on CNN.com on January 23, 2014.   Almost two years ago, Philadelphia launched its Healthy Chinese Take-out Initiative with the goal of reducing sodium content by 10% to 15%. The city’s Public Health Department worked with 206 restaurants, first evaluating their menus for sodium content and then helping them Read More >

Posted on by CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden1 CommentTags , , , , , , , , ,