Lay Beliefs And Responses Concerning Hypertension And lts Management In Two Culturally Distinct Groups

Abstract

By far the vast majority (95%) of hypertensive patients attending hospital or general practice clinics suffer from idiopathic (essential) hypertension. In 1991 the death rate from strokes was 12% of all deaths in England. The UK government had decided to take action aimed at reducing this figure by a factor of 40% by the year 2000. During the consultation there was virtually unanimous agreement that the prevention of coronary heart disease and stroke should be included as a key area because reductions in risk factors associated with them - unbalance diet, smoking, raised blood pressure, alcohol misuse and lack of physical activity - would also help to prevent many other diseases. From the same department of Health summary figure - "lt has been estimated that a reduction in mean blood pressure of 5mm Hg could result in a 10% reduction in deaths from coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke". Prior to this publication other research workers had shown that the risks of strokes and myocardial infractions increase sharply with diastolic levels of l00mm Hg and above.