National analysis identifies Columbus as one of the Hypertension Hot Spots in the U.S.

A national analysis conducted by Sperling's BestPlaces and sponsored by Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc., identified Columbus, Ohio, as one of the nation's Hypertension Hot Spots, or cities that have hypertension risk factors and complications. The identification of the Hypertension Hot Spots is part of a larger Takeda-sponsored hypertension awareness program called Commit to Control, which educates Americans about hypertension and also challenges patients to do all they can to get their blood pressure under control.

Columbus ranked 16th on the list of 50 U.S. metropolitan areas that have hypertension risk factors and complications. Furthermore, in 2009, nearly one-third of people in the state of Ohio had been informed they have high blood pressure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The large-scale Hot Spots analysis, which combined findings of original research and existing, related research in the field of the study, analyzed data about numerous hypertension risk factors, including high Body Mass Index – Columbus ranked seventh highest nationwide – and obesity; Columbus ranked 12th highest nationwide.

"Hypertension can lead to a higher risk of serious health consequences like heart attack and stroke if left uncontrolled," said Sanjay Rajagopalan, M.D., a cardiologist and professor of internal medicine at The Ohio State University Medical Center. "The Hot Spots ranking reiterates hypertension's high prevalence in Columbus and reinforces the importance of patients working with their doctors to lower their blood pressure and reduce their risk for complications."

The Commit to Control exhibit will visit the Columbus 10TV Health & Fitness Expo on Aug. 20-21. To motivate residents to control their high blood pressure, the exhibit will offer free blood pressure screenings and the opportunity to see the effects hypertension can have on the body through an animated 3-D simulation. The tour schedule and additional resources on how patients can take steps toward managing their hypertension are available on www.CommitToControl.com. Site visitors can also see a full list of the 50 Hypertension Hot Spots and make an online pledge to talk to their doctors about controlling hypertension. For each pledge made online, Takeda will donate $5, up to $10,000, to Mended Hearts, a community-based, nationwide heart patient support network.