While hypertension-related mortality last year fell for the first time in years, health officials said that self-monitoring and better access to blood pressure (BP) checks remain crucial as the condition continues to affect more than 20 percent of people aged 40 and older.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare recently released the top 10 causes of death last year, with hypertensive diseases ranking sixth and showing a standardized mortality rate of 16 percent, edging down from 16.5 percent in 2023.
The Health Promotion Administration (HPA) and the Taiwan Hypertension Society hosted a news conference yesterday, calling on people aged 18 and older to measure their blood pressure at home at least once every year.
Photo: Chiu Chih-jou, Taipei Times
The agency suggested following the “722” rule for accurate blood pressure checks.
That means taking the test continuously for seven days, twice in the morning and twice at night, and recording the average measurement for each session, it said.
That should make for a more accurate blood pressure reading and reduce the chances of hospital-related anxiety causing elevated blood pressure, it said.
Actor Dennis Nieh (聶雲) shared his own experience through a short play that emphasized the importance of self-monitoring blood pressure.
High blood pressure has been one of the top 10 causes of death for many years and can lead to other health issues, including cardiovascular disease, stroke and kidney disease, HPA Director-General Wu Chao-chun (吳昭軍) said.
Controlling blood pressure directly influences the development of diseases and risk of mortality, but many people do not have a blood pressure monitor or know how to use it, Wu said.
As it is not realistic to expect every household to own a blood pressure monitor, the HPA and the Taiwan Hypertension Society said they have been encouraging communities, businesses and chain stores to set up blood pressure monitoring stations, providing people with a convenient and accessible way to measure their blood pressure, he said.
More than 1,500 such stations have already been set up across the nation, with businesses including 7-Eleven, Capital Securities Corp and Taiwan Business Bank participating, he added.
Based on screening results from 2023, 23.8 percent of men, 20.3 percent of women and 21.3 percent of people aged 40 and older showed signs of hypertension, HPA Chronic Disease Control Division Director Wu Chien-yuan (吳建遠) said.
This shows the prevalence of hypertension in middle-aged and older adults and the continued need for screening and self-management, Wu Chien-yuan said.
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