Strategy to fight silent health condition

The rate of high blood pressure sufferers has to drop by three per cent by 2015 in line with a strategy for the prevention of non-communicable diseases, which is now open for consultation.

The last available figures dating back to 2002 show that 17 per cent of the population reported they suffered from high blood pressure. The strategy is envisaging cutting this to 14 per cent by 2015.

Encouraging a reduction in the intake of salt and reducing body mass index was outlined by the strategy, published in March, as the two main measures to lower the incidence of high blood pressure.

Social Policy Minister John Dalli said last January that an estimated 72,700 people in Malta and Gozo suffered from hypertension, with about 55,000 of them receiving treatment for the condition.

High blood pressure is one of the leading risk factors of cardiovascular disease. Public Health Regulation director general Ray Busuttil said one of the most common visits to general practitioners was for people wanting to check their blood pressure.

Speaking during a press conference to mark World Hypertension Day, celebrated last Sunday, Dr Busuttil said high blood pressure was a silent condition and many people did not experience any symptoms until it was too late. The health authorities were working on guidelines for the treatment of blood pressure, which would be given to doctors.

Dr Busuttil said high blood pressure could occur at any age, although middle-aged people were the most prone.

Charmaine Gauci, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Department head, said decreasing the rate of salt was very important to lower blood pressure.

A seminar on high blood pressure will be held at Mater Dei Hospital's main auditorium on June 13 at 9 a.m.