Hypertension in Thailand.

Thailand is located in Southeast Asia, with a population of more than 63 million people, approximately 6 million living in the capital Bangkok. Health problems increase with an increase in the population and the subsequent increase in the population density. For decades, the national health care system of Thailand has been developing along with the National Social and Economic Development Plans of the country (from the first plan to the ninth plan). At present, the 10th Thai National Health Care Plan, covering the years 2007 to 2011, is being followed. Included in the Plan are efforts to decrease the morbidity and mortality rate of Thai people due to hypertension, a very significant health problem. In the past, free Thai health care was only provided to individuals and families who worked in governmental organizations or public enterprises. Eventually, in 2002, Thailand enacted a law that provided national health care for all Thai citizens. This law gave the Thai people the opportunity to receive free health care for prevention and treatment, especially related to hypertension. Hypertension is a major contributing factor for cardiovascular disease, stroke, and renal disease, which occur in most countries in the world including Thailand. In fact, hypertension is one of the leading risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and death in Thailand. Thai people are often not aware of the fact that they have hypertension because hypertensive symptoms are not clearly evident to them. Moreover, many Thai people do not know how to prevent hypertension. Some patients find out that they have hypertension on their visit to physicians with stroke manifestations. Changes in the lifestyle behaviors of Thai people, such as dietary patterns and physical activities that may be associated with the development of hypertension, have occurred due to changes in the social and economic development of the country. This paper reviews the definitions and the prevalence rate of pre-hypertension and hypertension; changes in Thais’ lifestyle behavior; percentages of awareness, treatment, and hypertension control; and nurses’ roles in health promotion and risk reduction relative to hypertension.