November 3, 2025 : As per World Health Organisation, hypertension (high blood pressure) is a major cause of premature death worldwide, and an estimated 1.4 billion adults aged 30–79 years worldwide had hypertension in 2024; this represents 33 percent of the population in this age range, per WHO
What is hypertension?
Hypertension occurs when the pressure in your blood vessels is too high (140/90 mmHg or higher) – it is common but can be serious if left untreated, as per WHO.
On November 2, Dr Brian Hoeflinger – a neurosurgeon with 26 years of experience from Ohio in the US – took to Instagram to explain that high blood pressure is known as the ‘silent killer’ because it often doesn’t show any symptoms, and people can go years without knowing they have the condition until a severe health issue arises.
The dangers of untreated hypertension
In the video he posted, Dr Hoeflinger talked about how elevated blood pressure damages the blood vessel lining, leading to plaque buildup, known as atherosclerosis, which narrows vessels and reduces blood flow to vital organs. According to Dr Hoeflinger, this can cause fatal heart attacks or strokes, and almost 50 percent of individuals with high blood pressure don’t experience symptoms, making regular monitoring crucial.
Summary:
A veteran neurosurgeon cautions that chronic high blood pressure quietly reduces blood flow to vital organs, leading to long-term brain, heart, and nerve damage if ignored.