Hypertension is a silent killer that steals lives, burdens health care systems and strains economies. In Thailand, one in four adults has high blood pressure. Three in four Thai adults living with hypertension don’t have it under control and are at risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and dementia.
Luckily, solutions exist to prevent and control hypertension. In a new op-ed for Bangkok Post, Dr. Renu Garg, Senior Vice President of Cardiovascular Health at Resolve to Save Lives, and Jos Vandelaer, WHO Representative to Thailand, explain the importance of blood pressure control and share recommendations to address hypertension crises.
South Korea, for example, has shown enormous progress in improving their blood pressure control rate and reducing the death rate from stroke. Thailand and other countries can take similar actions to control hypertension rates and improve access to treatment for adults living with high blood pressure. By prioritizing blood pressure control now, countries like Thailand can save millions of lives in the future.