Blood sugar test (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said on Sunday it will roll out a nationwide awareness drive to encourage people, especially younger adults, to monitor key health indicators in order to prevent cardiovascular disease, one of the country’s leading causes of death.
The campaign, called “Know Your Numbers, Red Circle,” will run from September 1 to 7 in cooperation with local governments. First launched in 2014, the initiative promotes the routine tracking of blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels — factors closely tied to heart attacks, strokes and other serious conditions.
While older adults are generally aware of their health status, many in their 20s, 30s and 40s remain undiagnosed, the agency said. Data show that 87.1 percent of those over 70 with hypertension know of their condition, compared with just 50.7 percent of people in their 40s, 24.8 percent in their 30s and 19.3 percent in their 20s.
Officials warn that unmanaged hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia can lead to life-threatening complications, including heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease and vision loss.
The agency is urging young people to adopt healthier lifestyles by avoiding smoking and alcohol, exercising at least 30 minutes a day, maintaining a healthy weight and checking their numbers regularly.
“Cardiovascular disease accounts for four of the top 10 causes of death in Korea,” said KDCA Commissioner Lim Seung-kwan. “Knowing your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels is the first step toward protecting your health. Even young adults must recognize that chronic conditions can begin early if lifestyle habits worsen.”
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
