10% of Thais age 35 or up has high blood pressure

BANGKOK: -- One-tenth of Thai people aged 35 or up suffer from high blood pressure, according to a new survey carried out by Thailand's Ministry of Public Health.

Deputy Public Health Minister Dr. Wallop Thainua said ministry teams made field trips to test the blood pressure of some 29 million persons aged 35 or over throughout the kingdom to identify those having high blood pressure so that they may get medical treatment from the outset.

Ministry personnel tested the blood pressure of a total of 8,894,703 persons in 55 provinces, or 30.16 per cent of Thailand's overall population in the past two days.

They found 852,644 people -- almost 10 per cent or 9.59 per cent or one tenth of those aged 35 or up -- had blood pressure higher than 140/90 millimetres (140 over 90) the standard level.

Of this, 101,354 people or 7 per cent live in provinces of the northeastern region including Si Sa Ket, Ubon Ratchathani, Yasothon, and Amnart Charoen.

He said the campaign to examine blood pressure was launched with the intention to urge those who found themselves suffering from the high blood pressure to turn to the medical authorities to better care for their health.

Knowing about high blood pressure would also help ease people's risks from stroke, which causes semi-paralysis, paralysis and kidney diseases.

--TNA 2007-09-04

I was under the impression that anything over 120/80 was considered high these days.