XN000022-1978-04-07 — Page 7

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FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 1978

DR. THONG OPENS EXHIBITION ON HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

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THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. K.L. THONG, SAID THAT HYPERTENSIVE DISEASES NOW RANK AMONG THE GREATEST KILLER DISEASES IN THE WORLD, PARTICULARLY IN THE ADVANCED AND HIGHLY INDUSTRIALISED COUNTRIES.

+ IN HONG KONG THIS IS A PROBLEM WHICH IS VERY MUCH WITH US AS WE UNFORTUNATELY HAVE THE DUBIOUS HONOUR OF BEING IN THE BIG LEAGUE OF THE ADVANCED COUNTRIES. HYPERTENSION AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES ARE IN FACT THE SECOND LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH IN HONG KONG,+ HE SAID.

DR. THONG WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE EXHIBITION ON +YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE AND YOU+ AT THE OCEAN TERMINAL THIS MORNING.

THE EXHIBITION, WHICH WILL LAST UNTIL APRIL 13, IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG HEART FOUNDATION, THE HONG KONG CARDIOLOGICAL SOCIETY AND THE MEDICAL SOCIETY OF HONG KONG UNIVERSITY, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

DR. THONG SAID HYPERTENSION, OR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AS IT IS GENERALLY KNOWN, IS BY ITSELF NOT A DISEASE BUT A PHYSICAL CONDITION, BUT THOSE WITH THIS CONDITION ARE KNOWN TO BE MORE PRONE TO STROKES AND CORONARY HEART DISEASE.

+ IT IS A SILENT THREAT TO PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM IT AND IT IS ALL THE MORE DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF THE ABSENCE OF SYMPTOMS IN THE EARLY STAGES OF THE CONDITION AND CAN GO UNNOTICED UNTIL COMPLICATIONS OCCUR,+ HE SAID.

SUCH COMPLICATIONS, HE POINTED OUT, ARE COMMON CAUSES OF DEATH AND INCAPACITY.

DR. THONG SAID ALTHOUGH THERE ARE MEANS TO CONTROL HYPERTENSION MANY INDIVIDUALS STILL DO NOT RECEIVE SUCH CARE BECAUSE +THEY ARE

IGNORANT OF THE BASIC FACTS AND THE FACTORS THAT ARE CONNECTED WITH THIS CONDITION.+

+ INDIVIDUALS SHOULD, THEREFORE BE ENCOURAGED TO OBTAIN MEDICAL ADVICE AND BE TREATED, IF NECESSARY, REGULARLY AND ON SCHEDULE. THEIR LIFE-STYLE,

THEIR LIFE-STYLE, STRESSES AND DEMANDS, THEIR DIETS, LACK OF PROPER REST PERIODS MAY ALL BE FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE IR CONDITION,+ HE SAID.

IT IS SIGNIFICANT TO NOTE THAT WHERE THE COMMUNITY HAS SHOWN A STRONG WILL TO COMBAT THE PROBLEM, THERE HAVE BEEN STRIKING SUCCESSES, AND THIS PRINCIPLE HAS EMERGED FROM STUDIES BY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION, SAID DR. THONG.

+THEREFORE,