Dear members

World Health Day is celebrated each year on 7 April, a date that marks the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization. This year, the central theme is ‘controlling blood pressure’. In its message for the Day, WHO points that high blood pressure, or hypertension, affects more than one in three adults worldwide, with two-thirds of those affected living in developing countries.

Furthermore, high blood pressure is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and one that can very often go undiagnosed. If left untreated, it can lead to fatal heart attacks, strokes, and chronic heart and kidney disease. Attention and action to prevent and treat high blood pressure is crucial to achieving the agreed goal to reduce the overall relative mortality from noncommunicable diseases (NCDS) by 25% by 2025.

As members of the dental profession, we are committed to playing our part in this worldwide effort. As one of the few medical practitioners that people visit for a check-up, rather than due to illness, we are in a privileged position to discuss with our patients risk factors such as hypertension.

Since most dental practices also possess the simple equipment necessary to carry out a quick blood pressure check in some situations, we are also in a position to collaborate namely in the monitoring of NCDs. In support of WHO, let’s make a special effort to be part of this year’s worldwide campaign to cut the risk of heart attack and stroke!

At the same time, and bearing in mind the undoubted role that stress plays in hypertension—‘professional burn-out’ was the theme of the ‘Women Dentists’ session at the 2012 Annual World Dental Congress—let us also make World Health Day an opportunity to monitor our own health, beginning with our blood pressure!

With best personal regards,

Orlando Monteiro da Silva