Hong Kong – It’s the silent killer. High blood pressure usually has no warning signs but simple steps can cut your risk of devastating health problems, Manulife and the World Heart Federation said in the run-up to World Hypertension Day on May 17.
Awareness is the start. Hypertension is one of the main risk factors for heart disease and stroke – the world’s leading causes of death – but many people do not realize their blood pressure is high.
“See your doctor to get your blood pressure checked,” said Dr. David Wood, President of the World Heart Federation. “It’s quick and painless but it could save your life because high blood pressure can be treated and prevented – often by making a few changes to your diet, activity levels and unhealthy habits.”
Various factors contribute to the risk but high blood pressure does not ignore people based on age, affluence, gender or geography. Globally, about one in four adults has hypertension and it’s expected to affect more than 1.5 billion people by 2025, according to The Lancet medical journal.
Here are some ways to control your blood pressure:
- Stay active: Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate activity five times a week. Walk, dance, swim, do housework or play a sport – they all count
- Eat well: Cut down on salt, sugar, fat and processed foods. Eat at least five portions (handfuls) of fruit and vegetables every day. If you drink alcohol, reduce the amount
- Stop smoking: Quitting tobacco is the single best thing you can do to improve your heart health
- Control your weight: Being overweight or obese raises your risk of high blood pressure
The costs of ignoring hypertension are not just personal. Hospital treatment, medication and lost work hours all add to the burdens on the economy and society.
“Promoting a healthier lifestyle and creating health awareness are important parts of helping our customers, employees and other people live better lives,” said Guy Mills, Chief Executive Officer of Manulife Hong Kong.
“In Hong Kong, nearly 14% of people have elevated blood pressure. Staying active helps lower blood pressure and improve well-being. We will continue to motivate people to lead an active lifestyle with our award-winning ManulifeMOVE program that rewards customers for regular exercise.”
To raise employee awareness, Manulife will run well-being activities at all three offices in Hong Kong on World Hypertension Day. These will include distribution of fresh fruit, blood pressure measurement and health advice from medical professionals.
Held annually on May 17, World Hypertension Day is a global initiative to combat high blood pressure through awareness programs and other activities. “Know Your Numbers” is this year’s theme, aimed at encouraging regular and proper checking of blood pressure.
Know Your Numbers
Two measurements assess blood pressure – systolic (maximum) and diastolic (minimum) – often expressed as maximum/minimum. According to the International Society of Hypertension, blood pressure categories are:
Normal: Maximum less than 120 and minimum less than 80 Prehypertension: Maximum 120 to 139 or minimum 80 to 89 High: Maximum over 140 or minimum more than 90 Emergency: Maximum above 180 or minimum above 110 requires immediate medical attention |
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Manulife will give out fresh fruit to employees in Hong Kong as part of its awareness programs on World Hypertension Day.
About Manulife Hong Kong
Manulife Hong Kong offers a diverse range of protection and wealth products and services to individual and corporate customers via Manulife (International) Limited, Manulife Asset Management (Hong Kong) Limited and Manulife Provident Funds Trust Company Limited, which are members of the Manulife group of companies.
About Manulife
Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services group that helps people make their decisions easier and lives better. We operate primarily as John Hancock in the United States and Manulife elsewhere. We provide financial advice, insurance, as well as wealth and asset management solutions for individuals, groups and institutions. At the end of 2017, we had about 35,000 employees, 73,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving more than 26 million customers. As of March 31, 2018, we had over C$1.1 trillion (HK$6.7 trillion) in assets under management and administration, and in the previous 12 months we made C$26.9 billion in payments to our customers. Our principal operations are in Asia, Canada and the United States where we have served customers for more than 100 years. With our global headquarters in Toronto, Canada, we trade as 'MFC' on the Toronto, New York, and the Philippine stock exchanges and under '945' in Hong Kong.
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