New Delhi: Every year on October 29, World Stroke Day reminds people all across the world how important it is to be aware of strokes, stop them from happening, and get treatment as soon as possible. The topic for 2025 is “Every Minute Counts,” which shows how taking action right now can save lives and lower the risk of long-term incapacity.
The World Stroke Organization says that around 90% of all strokes are linked to modifiable risk factors, which are situations that can be controlled or stopped with early intervention. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is still the main cause of many problems. But there is an even more hazardous type of hypertension in this group: resistant hypertension (RHTN).
What is resistant high blood pressure?
Most people know about regular hypertension, however resistant hypertension is a more severe and tenacious type.
Dr. Babu Ezhumalai, a Senior Consultant in Interventional Cardiology at MGM Healthcare in Chennai, says:
“Resistant hypertension (RHTN) is a type of high blood pressure that doesn’t go down even after taking three or more medications, one of which is a diuretic.” What makes it so worrying is that it is strongly linked to stroke, which many people don’t know about.
Even after making changes to their lifestyle and taking different medications, this issue doesn’t go away. Over time, it quietly puts stress on important organs including the heart, kidneys, and brain, which raises the chance of consequences that could be fatal.
How often does it happen, and how bad is it?
Dr. Ezhumalai said that roughly 10% of persons with high blood pressure may have resistant hypertension. In India, this means that millions of people may be at risk without knowing it, since the ailment often develops without any signs.
A study from 2023 indicated that persons with resistant hypertension have a 14% higher chance of having a stroke than people with less severe forms of hypertension.
Dr. Ezhumalai warned that people with RHTN are more prone to have strokes, sometimes without any clear warning. He also said that RHTN that isn’t treated can damage organs.
Things to Look Out For
People typically term resistant hypertension a “silent killer,” yet several signs may show up in later stages:
Headaches that don’t go away
Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
Nosebleeds that happen a lot
Tiredness or trouble breathing
“RHTN is usually quiet.” In very bad situations, people may get headaches, dizziness, or nosebleeds. “Most of the damage to the heart, brain, and kidneys happens slowly over time,” stated Dr. Ezhumalai.
Four Important Steps for Managing Resistant Hypertension
Resistant hypertension can be managed, albeit it is challenging, with regular checkups, changes to your lifestyle, and medical advice. Dr. Ezhumalai says to do the following:
Regular Monitoring: Check your blood pressure at home and employ 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) to find concealed spikes or overnight hypertension, which are both substantial risk factors for stroke.
Eat a heart-healthy diet: The DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) is full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy. It’s very important to cut back on salt.
Stay Active: To keep your heart healthy and improve how well your medications work, do regular physical activity like swimming, biking, or brisk walking.
Control Stress and Sleep: High blood pressure can be caused by long-term stress and not getting enough sleep. Include yoga, meditation, or other relaxing techniques in your daily routine, and make sure you get 7 to 8 hours of good sleep every night.
Why Being Aware Is Important
A recent study in Cardiovascular Diabetology (August 2025) showed that when high blood pressure and high stress-related blood sugar are combined, the risk of stroke goes up much more. This shows how important it is to take care of your heart and blood vessels as a whole.
Experts say that everyone should get their blood pressure checked periodically and see a doctor if it stays high even after taking medicine on World Stroke Day 2025.
“Awareness and early management are the keys.” “Every minute counts,” Dr. Ezhumalai said in closing. “For stroke prevention and for life.”