A recent international survey on the global burden of disease identified hypertension (high blood pressure) as the leading "risk factor" for disease around the world. Over 120 members of the American Medical Group Association (AMGA) serving more than 40 million patients have joined together to address this health problem by participating in Measure Up, Pressure Down, a new national healthcare campaign aimed at preventing, detecting and controlling high blood pressure spearheaded by the American Medical Group Foundation (AMGF), AMGA's nonprofit education and research arm.
The Global Burden of Disease Study, published December 13, 2012, was produced by 486 researchers at 302 institutions in 50 countries, and is the most detailed look at health on the population level ever attempted. It charts 235 causes of death, and examines the effects of 67 risk factors that can lead to illness. Hypertension was identified as the leading risk factor for disease.
These findings underscore the fact that high blood pressure is one of the nation's most significant health issues. CDC says high blood pressure contributes to nearly 1,000 deaths a day and accounts for an estimated $156 billion in healthcare services, medications and lost productivity. One of the most effective ways to control high blood pressure is for the patient to work with a coordinated health care team to get their condition under control. The team-based approach involves physicians, nurses, pharmacists, health coaches and other members of a medical team working together to provide the best level of care to patients.