The Department of Health (DH) urged members of the public to support World No Tobacco Day tomorrow (May 31) in order to help create a smoke-free environment in Hong Kong.

The theme of World No Tobacco Day this year is "Ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship". To curb the tobacco epidemic, a DH spokesman said that the Government has adopted a progressive and multi-pronged approach comprising legislation, enforcement, publicity, education, smoking cessation and taxation.

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a chronic disease in which the blood pressure in the arteries is persistently elevated. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps out blood. A normal blood pressure is required to push the blood through the body and supply oxygen and nutrients to the tissues. But if blood pressure rises and stays elevated over time, a number of serious health problems may ensue, including stroke, coronary heart disease and heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and even early death.