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Dr Piyamitr Sritara, director of Ramathibodi Hospital's Cardiovascular and Metabolic Centre, conducted a study of 6,500 Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand personnel over 23 years.

He was speaking at Ramathibodi Hospital to mark World Heart Day, which is held on September 23 every year.

Piyamitr said the study showed that heart disease was still the number one killer of people aged 35 to 64, followed by accidents and cancer. About 80 in 100,000 people in this age group will die from heart disease.

He said men aged over 45 and women aged over 55 were most at risk of heart disease.

Women whose ovaries have been removed face the same risk as 45yearold men because they lack the estrogen hormone, which helps women to avoid absorbing lipids into the bloodstream.

Piyamitr cited another study that found that men aged 30 to 60 with a high level of lipids face twice the risk of heart disease. The risk increases eight times for men who smoke and have high blood pressure.

Public Health Ministry records show that 40,000 people die each year from coronary vascular disease and heart disease.

In the past, heart disease occurred most often in people aged over 40, but more teenagers are now at risk due to bad dietary habits, said Piyamitr.

According to a survey by the National Statistical Office in 2005, 86 per cent of Thais regularly eat meals with high fat content, 15 per cent regularly eat fast food and 72 per cent regularly drink carbonated soft drinks.

A survey in 2003 found 5 per cent of Thai children aged under 15 were at risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Piyamitr said these results were linked to changing lifestyles as Thailand moved from being an agricultural society to an industrial society.

"Most Thais are having more stress and eating more Westernstyle junk food, which causes obesity and diabetes. These factors are risk factors for heart disease," he said.

However, people can change their behaviour and receive medication to reduce the risk of heart disease and other related diseases.