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Published on September 9, 2007

The ministry held a campaign last week to persuade Thais aged over 35 to check their blood pressure. More than 20.7 million people did so.

"This is the first time in the world that more than 20 million people have joined a campaign to check their blood pressure," said Deputy Health Minister Dr Vallop Thaineua.

The ministry found that five provinces ranked as a high risk for blood pressure. Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Ayut-thaya, Samut Songkhram and Nakhon Sawan had rates of 26.86 per cent, 24.6 per cent, 21.7 per cent, 20.31 per cent and 20.02 per cent respectively.

Wallop said the results indicated that most Thais have anxiety and stress disorders linked to high blood pressure. Tests of body-mass index found one in four people had a problem with obesity.

High blood pressure increases the heart's workload, which causes it to enlarge and weaken over time. When combined with obesity, smoking, high cholesterol or diabetes, the risk increases several times.

More than 150,000 Thais per year suffer from cerebrovascular diseases and paralysis, with 45,000 dying.

The ministry estimates that more than 13 million people are at risk of paralysis and 80 per cent will be disabled and have to spend a long time to recover.