[Note: An Open Letter
To Healthcare Providers Nationwide was published in the New York Times,
Tuesday, April 18, 2000. We at CLHERBS.COM fell the information on blood pressure
(HYPERTENSION) is still such a major issue in 2007 that parts of the
letter are reprinted below.
Despite significant
achievements in the detection and treatment of hypertension (high blood
pressure) over the past 30 years, the most current national data show that
high hypertension (high blood pressure) control rates are no longer improving.
Today, we would have liked
to be able to announce that hypertension had been brought under
control in 50 percent of those patients who have it – a national goal
set forth by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ 1995
Healthy People 2000 initiative.
Instead reports show that
high blood pressure is controlled in only about 27 percent of Americans
with hypertension, with even worse control rates in those over age 74.
Equally disturbing, approximately one-third of those affected are unaware
that they have hypertension. The hypertension risks are even higher and the
consequences often more severe in particular populations: older Americans,
African-Americans, and people with diabetes./
We have not met our
millennium goal. The consequences of that...are serious: Hypertension is a
primary or a contributing factor in more than 200,000 deaths per year.
Hypertension precedes heart failure in 75 percent of all cases. Heart failure is now
the most common cause for hospitalization in people age 65 or older. In the U.S. approximately
every 53 seconds, someone has a stroke. That’s more than 600,000
Americans a year. Nearly one-third of them will die immediately.
Hypertension is the most important modifiable risk factor for stroke,
and the risk increases directly as hypertension and blood pressure increases. Cardiovascular diseases
cost the nation more than $326 billion each year.
Clearly, more aggressive
hypertension management is critical. We know now that lowering systolic
(top number) as well as diastolic, (bottom number) blood pressure is
important in reducing hypertension and cardiovascular diseases in our patients. Research
suggests that systolic blood pressure may be an even better predictor of cardiovascular risk. This presents new challenges since systolic pressure
is less easily managed and has not been the primary focus of treatment. It is time to join together
and strengthen our commitment to manage hypertension...
Hypertension is
endemic in this country [U.S.A.]. It is our responsibility as healthcare
providers to address it with the urgency it demands. We invite you to join
us in making a commitment to the health of those you treat who are at risk
for disability and death due to uncontrolled hypertension. [Signed by many
distinguished Physicians and health care providers]
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