The prevalence of hypertension among people aged 35 to 74 has reached 27.2 percent, putting the blood pressure of 130 million adults above the normal level.

This was indicated the study that was jointly conducted by researchers from China, the United States and Australia.

Compared with previous studies, the researchers found both the prevalence rate and the number of hypertension patients in China increased rapidly.

The number climbed from 30 million to 94 million between 1960-91.

"The worst thing is that increasing rate of hyper-tension among young people is much higher than among the elderly," said Professor Gu Dongfeng from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, who is in charge of the study.

"If no preventative measures are taken, the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases caused by hyper-tension will inevitably rise in China," Gu said.

According to the professor, cardiovascular diseases have become the leading killer in China.

"On average, two to three people die of strokes every minute in China, of which hypertension is a significant cause," the professor said.

Gu blamed an unhealthy lifestyle and diet - including high intake of salt, sugar and high-calorie food, less physical exercise, smoking and alcohol abuse - in association with a faster pace of life and greater pressures, as major causes of the hypertension epidemic.

Gu said routine physical checkups and a change of lifestyle are effective in the control and prevention of hypertension, but not many people were aware of that.

Fifty-five percent of hypertension sufferers knew nothing about their own condition. Less than 30 percent of people who knew they were ill took appropriate medication, only 10 percent successfully con-trolled their blood pressure at the safe level.

A national health education program should be launched to enhance hypertension checkups in communities and clinics, and to improve public awareness of the disease, Gu said.

(eastday.com August 31, 2002)