Merck Marks World Hypertension Day with Launch of Hypertension Risk Checker
“Fast heart rate while resting?” That is the question at the centre of a new awareness initiative launched by Merck, a leading science and technology company, to mark World Hypertension Day. The campaign aims to encourage greater understanding of elevated resting heart rate as a potential signal within the broader cardiovascular risk conversation.
As part of the initiative, Merck has launched a new Hypertension Risk Checker designed to encourage earlier awareness and proactive heart health management.
According to the World Health Organization, 1.4 billion people (around one in three adults worldwide) live with high blood pressure, while an estimated 600 million adults remain unaware that they have the condition.1
Across the Gulf region, cardiovascular disease continues to represent a growing health challenge, reinforcing the importance of awareness, early detection, and proactive heart health management.
Often referred to as the “silent killer,” hypertension can develop without noticeable symptoms1, leaving many individuals unaware they may be at risk until serious health complications arise. Elevated resting heart rate may feel like a rapid, racing,or pounding heartbeat2, 2even when a person is not physically active, and may serve as an important signal to seek medical advice.
Ahmed Abo Al Fadl, General Manager – UAE & Gulf, Merck said: “Hypertension continues to be one of the most significant yet underdiagnosed health challenges globally and across our region. Through greater awareness, earlier conversations, and accessible educational tools such as the Hypertension Risk Checker, we hope to encourage more people to take proactive steps towards understanding and managing their heart health.”
This year also marks four decades of Merck’s legacy in cardiovascular care, reflecting the company’s longstanding commitment to supporting patients living with cardiovascular conditions through science, innovation, and quality healthcare solutions.
For four decades, Merck’s cardiovascular portfolio has supported the treatment journey of more than 535,000 patients across the Gulf region.
World Hypertension Day is observed annually to encourage individuals to take simple but important steps toward better heart health, including checking blood pressure regularly, maintaining healthy lifestyle habits, and consulting healthcare professionals when needed.
To access the free Hypertension Risk Checker tool, please visit: https://www.cardioriskchecker.com/