Home blood pressure checks promoted

Regular blood pressure check at home is the theme of today's National Hypertension Day as the Ministry of Health (MOH) reminds those afflicted by the life-threatening condition to keep it under control.

As part of the day's efforts to raise awareness, the ministry encouraged regional health departments to provide consulting services to local residents on how to measure blood pressure by themselves.

Some 200 million Chinese people, or 15 percent of the Chinese population, suffer from high blood pressure, according to ministry statistics.