World Health Day: Focus on High Blood Pressure

The Office of Public Health Genomics (OPHG) provides updated and credible information on how genomic
information and family health history can improve health and influence policy and practice. We highlight
news and information on the use of genomic tests and other applications, including family health history,
in clinical and public health practice and programs, along with relevant data, policy, and legislation. We hope the update is informative to practitioners, policy makers, consumers, and researchers. Please send
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Diseases of the Week

World Health Day: Focus on High Blood Pressure

• CDC feature: April 7 is World Health Day: High Blood Pressure
• World Health Organization: Silent killer, global public health crisis
• CDC information: Learn about high blood pressure
• MMWR article: Self-reported hypertension and use of antihypertensive medications among adults, United States, 2005-2009. Apr 5, 2013
• Risk factors for high blood pressure include family history. [PDF 94.84 KB] Collect and act on your family history to cut your own risk from high blood pressure
• From the HuGE Navigator: 1522 genes have been reported with hypertension, including 70 genomewide association studies.