 |
Hypertension Endangers Health of Young Generation in China
Hypertension is endangering health of the younger generation in China than the silver-hair population, traditionally the majority of the disease sufferers, due to negligence of healthy life styles and preventive measures, according to health experts.
The incidence of hypertension is still on the rise in China, while the average age of patients becoming younger and more rural residents falling ill, Vice Minister of Health Peng Yu said at a ceremony to mark the fourth National Hypertension Day, which falls on Monday.
More than 100 million people are suffering from high blood pressure in China with a population of 1.3 billion, which is also responsible for enormous cases of physical disability and death.
Risk factors of the disease are increased, such as overweight, high level of blood cholesterol, over intake of salt, smoking, and less physical exercises, medical experts warned.
Research has shown that 75 percent of hypertension cases and relevant syndromes could be prevented if healthy life styles, early prevention or regular treatment are adopted, Peng said.
She noted that China should follow successful examples in the United States, Finland, Australia and Japan, where nationwide campaigns of health education have helped lower the incidence of cardiovascular diseases.
However, a survey by the Ministry of Health (MOH) indicated that many Chinese people, especially those aged between 35 and 44, were still unaware of the significance of disease prevention.
Less than 30 percent of patients obtained correct information from their doctors, the survey shows.
The MOH has initiated various activities since last year to spread the knowledge of hypertension prevention among the general public. For example, hypertension specialists were invited to free classes in Beijing and Shanghai to teach the knowledge.
Some doctors offering the classes received a special prize jointly presented by the MOH and Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Ltd., a Sino-U.S. joint venture producing and selling hypertension drugs in China.
Many patients have learned correct ways to control high blood pressure through classes, which provided a successful model for prevention and control of chronic diseases in China, said Hu Dayi, a doctor at the Beijing People's Hospital.
In This Section
|