World Health Day 2013

Today is World Health Day. The World Health Organization (WHO) adds a new public health focus to this day each year - which also commemorates the anniversary of the WHO's founding in 1948. In 2013, the emphasis is "control your blood pressure" - an effort to fight high blood pressure and reduce the chance of heart attacks and stroke.

By the Numbers

The World Health Organization revealed:

40% of adults aged 25 and over had raised blood pressure in 2008.

17.3 million people died from cardiovascular diseases in 2008.

The World Health Organization calls hypertension (high blood pressure) a "silent killer and global public health crisis," but there are ways to lower blood pressure, and be healthy.

It's "silent" because many people are often not aware of their high blood pressure, though monitoring it is relatively easy.

According to the World Health Organization, high blood pressure is a problem for “one in three adults” starting with ages 25 and up.

Tips via the WHO on reducing high blood pressure:

• Eat less salt
• Maintain a healthy, balanced diet
• Exercise frequently
• Avoid tobacco and curb alcohol use.

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