Approximately 12 million Vietnamese adults, or about one of every 5 people, suffer from high blood pressure, said Deputy Director of the General Department of Preventive Medicine Truong Dinh Bac.
A woman receives blood pressure check (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Approximately 12 million Vietnamese adults, or about one ofevery 5 people, suffer from high blood pressure, said Deputy Director of theGeneral Department of Preventive Medicine Truong Dinh Bac on April 25.
He sharedthe information during the workshop on “Hypertension and cardiovascular diseaseprevention and management: Technical updates on best practices” in Hanoi.
Of thefigure, about 60 percent do not know they have it; more than 80 percent are nottreated, he said, adding 79 percent of them face a cardiovascular risk but havenot provided with counselling and lack preventive management.
He notedhypertension is the leading cause of stroke and heart attack which lead todeath, paralysis and other disabilities and daily living problems.
The numberof people with high blood pressure in Vietnam has rapidly grown as aconsequence of unhealthy diet, not enough exercises and consumption of tobaccoand alcohol.
In 2015, thePrime Minister approved the national strategy on preventing non-communicablediseases, including heart diseases, from 2015-2025.
Thestrategy does not only outline measures to reduce above factors but alsosuggests developing a system of preventive medicine and healthcare that providepreventive services for the early detection of the diseases. The system willalso offer regular health checks and help change high-risk behaviour.
Vietnam hasstarted providing preventive healthcare services for people with high bloodpressure, diabetes and other non-communicable diseases at communal medicalstations and in community-based settings.
In the2011-2015 period, services for hypertension screening and management was implementedin nearly 1,200 communes and wards across the country, benefiting more than 2million people aged over 40.-VNA
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A woman receives blood pressure check (Photo: VNA) 
