Hypertension is on the rise among Los Angeles County adults. A report issued by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health indicates that the percentage of adults countywide who have been diagnosed with hypertension increased from 18% in 1997 to 25% in 2005, a rise of nearly 40%. The findings are based on the results of the most recent Los Angeles County Health Survey. The report also provides recommendations for individuals, businesses, cities, and communities to help reverse or reduce the upward trend.
Hypertension or high blood pressure can be deadly if not adequately treated. Unfortunately, many persons with hypertension do not seek treatment until complications develop because they don’t have symptoms and in some cases, are unaware they have the disease, said Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, MPH, Director of Public Health and County Health Officer. Hypertension increases a person’s risk for having a heart attack, heart failure, or stroke, and can also lead to kidney failure, vision loss, and dementia.
Public Health officials emphasize that appropriate treatment of high blood pressure greatly reduces the risk for complications. Unfortunately, among many Angelenos, hypertension remains poorly controlled. The LA County Health Survey shows that hypertensive adults without health insurance or a regular source of care often go without blood pressure medication. In order for these patients to be able to control their blood pressure, it is essential that they have ongoing access to a regular source of health care and to affordable prescription medications.
Lifestyle factors also play a major role in the development and control of hypertension. Our findings also show an important connection between someone having hypertension and their level of physical activity, alcohol use, and obesity. These findings underscore the importance of efforts to help people adopt and maintain a healthy lifestyle, including eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, limiting alcohol consumption, and not smoking, said Fielding.
Among obese adults, 37% reported a past hypertension diagnosis, compared to 24% of overweight and 17% of normal weight adults. Among adults who reported minimal physical activity, 27% had been diagnosed with hypertension, compared with 21% percent who met physical activity guidelines. The report also found that the prevalence of hypertension decreased as household income increased. Because obesity is strongly associated with high blood pressure, one explanation for the rising rate of hypertension among county adults is the obesity epidemic.
From 1997 through 2005, the percent of obese adults in LA County increased from 14% to 21%. However, the observed increase in hypertension could also be due to improvements in blood pressure screening and diagnosis, or improved survival among patients with hypertension.