Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 01, 2009 (SKNIS): One in five residents have high blood pressure and one in three are borderline for the chronic illness.

These were some of the findings of the St. Kitts STEPS Survey 2008 which was a population-based survey of adults aged 25 to 64 years of age.  Step one involved collecting socio-demographic and behavioural information, while step two involved the physical measurements such as height, weight and blood pressure.

The random survey using a sample of 1,443 adults, determined that 18.1 percent or one in five residents have hypertension and are currently on blood pressure medication while, 34.5 percent or one in three of the population are within the borderline range for the illness. 

Risk factors for contracting the chronic illness include smoking, eating less than five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, a low level of physical activity and being overweight or obese.  Ninty-eight point eight percent of the population are at risk and exhibit at least one of the risk factors, 42.9 percent have a raised risk and show at least three of the risk factors while the older section of the sample aged 45 to 64 have a 67.5 percent raised risk and have at least three of the mentioned risk factors. 

As a means of encouraging residents to monitor their blood pressure and lead healthier lifestyles, the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Development Bank will be installing self monitoring blood pressure machines.

One machine will be installed in Government Headquarters while another will be in the Post Office. The machines are scheduled to be installed and launched during the early part of this month.

The general public is encouraged to view and listen to local programming to find out how to properly operate the blood pressure equipment.