High blood pressure has the potential to be as devastating to global health as HIV, health experts have insisted.

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a ‘silent predator' because it rarely carries any signs or symptoms. In fact, a person can look and feel well even if they have it. However, the condition is a major cause of heart attack and stroke.

Two in three Irish people over the age of 45 have high blood pressure.

According to health experts writing in the International Journal of Epidemiology, like HIV, high blood pressure can lead to disabling illness and death. However, it is estimated that the number of people who will lose their lives to the condition over the next two decades will significantly exceed the number of people that have died as a result of HIV/AIDS.

The experts insist that people are in ‘denial' about the true impact of hypertension.

"It has been suggested that valuable lessons for hypertension could be taken from HIV/AIDS policies. Yet there is little indication that these are being taken on board. Our response to the global epidemic of hypertension seems little better than our response to HIV/AIDS two decades ago - too little too late. Can we not wake up earlier this time, before millions have died?" they asked.

They noted that HIV is a ‘major global health priority' and is seen as a big threat to public health in many developing countries.

"Hypertension is seen as a disease of the West, of prosperity and therefore of little relevance to poorer countries. This is despite the growing body of evidence that prevalences in poorer countries are quickly catching up," they said.

They pointed out that HIV also faced ‘political denial and public misunderstanding' in its early years.

The experts suggested that because hypertension can be caused by behavioural factors, such as obesity and smoking, there is a reluctance by health funders and tax payers to help people who ‘eat and smoke too much'.

They added that while hypertension is not an infectious disease, ‘the risky behaviours associated with it are spreading fast and seem to be as effectively transmitted as infectious agents'.