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Dr. Wu Zhaosu, chairman of China Hypertension League and a former vice dean of Beijing's prestigious Anzhen Hospital speaks at the ISH / APSH Summer School in Asia and Australasia held in Beijing on Aug. 3-7, 2015. [Photo by Chen Boyuan / China.org.cn]

"If you don't measure the blood pressure, the first sign of hypertension may be a stroke, or death. So, an important thing doctors need to do is to measure the blood pressure. If you measure the blood pressure, you can detect it. Early treatment does prevent the hemorrhagic stroke in particular, among other things," said Dr. Morgan.

"Blood pressure goes up a little bit initially, which causes some minor damages to organs. A vicious cycle sets in and so one will eventually develop what is called malignant hypertension. Untreated, people die from it within six months," Dr. Morgan said, adding that hypertension may be even more fatal than cancer.

Although difficult, controlling hypertension can be achieved through immense efforts by government, the food industry, doctors and the general population. "Education, communication and action," is how Dr. Morgan sums up the approach.

Hypertension is a worldwide health problem, especially in the Asia and Pacific region where half the world's population lives. The problem is more pressing in China than it was some decades ago, despite the development of the economy and improved medical services. Data shows that around 25 percent of the adult population in China have hypertension.

Improved financial conditions have brought about a worsening lifestyle – diet with too much oil, salt and sugar, and less physical activities to burn off the extra energy and higher nutritional intake. Also, the aging population in China means an increasing number of people are more prone to develop hypertension.

The Chinese government is very aware of the problem and has made program to improve and prevent hypertension. The three levels of public health system – from grass-roots to the top level – play an active role in screening and control of hypertension, said Dr. Wu Zhaosu, Chairman of the China Hypertension League and a former Vice Dean of Beijing's prestigious Anzhen Hospital.

Hypertension is hereditary, mainly because of one's genetic make-up. However, family influences such as diet and lifestyle play an equally important part in causing hypertension in the younger generation.

"The child will likely adopt the same lifestyle and diet. A bad family history means that you are at a high risk, although a good family history does not 'absolve' you from having hypertension in the future. So, the important thing is that you've got to break that lifestyle to have a change," said Dr. Morgan.

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