Arterial hypertension is “the most common chronic disease in France”, underlines the cardiologist Xavier Girerd, who indicates that “a million people who live in France are diagnosed with hypertension each year”.
“It remains a disease which affects everyone in the same way (…) which can be treated but which cannot be cured”, recalls Tuesday May 16 on franceinfo Xavier Girerd, cardiologist and president of the Research Foundation on arterial hypertension. In France, nearly one in three adults suffer from high blood pressure and half of them are unaware of it, according to Public Health France, which is based on two surveys of the general population and a survey of a panel of general practitioners. and the national health data system.
High blood pressure is “the most common chronic disease in France”underlines the cardiologist. “It is normal for the number of hypertensives to increase each year since it is a disease linked to aging and obesity, two factors that are increasing”observes Xavier Girerd. “A million people who live in France are diagnosed with hypertension every year”he says.
Only one out of two hypertensives is aware of their disease
If this chronic disease caused by “aging of the arteries”, “comes like this” overnight, she “affects everyone, the rich, the poor”, but can be treated, recalls the president of the Hypertension Research Foundation. So “to avoid having a stroke, heart disease, you have to take medicine every day”.
Weight gain is a “alert element”, says the cardiologist. In women, high blood pressure occurs at the time of “menopause”whereas in men, it happens “a bit later”underlines Xavier Girerd, recommending for men to control their blood pressure every year “from 60 years old”. Among the sick, “men are rather less well screened and less well treated than women”he notes.. “Women, when they are told that there is hypertension, they make an effort, they take the drugs, the men, they don’t care”he laments.
Only one out of two hypertensives is aware of their disease, indicates Public Health France. A figure which remains, according to the health agency, far below the level of knowledge recorded in other European or North American countries. However, according to Xavier Girerd, “Anyone can make the diagnosis of hypertension themselves”. Thanks to “automatic blood pressure monitors”it’s not “no longer worth going to see a health professional”he assures.