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Roll Up Your Sleeves, Japan! Sets Guinness World Record(TM) For Most Blood Pressure Readings in 24 Hours

Novartis Pharma KK
2007-05-18 11:14 1570

TOKYO, Japan, May 18 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Roll Up Your Sleeves, Japan! yesterday set the Guinness World Record(TM) for the most number of blood pressure readings in 24 hours. The total number of blood pressure (BP) readings achieved was 2,109. The world record set at the Chiba Marine Baseball Stadium on World Hypertension Day (WHD), May 17, is part of the high blood pressure awareness campaign, Roll Up Your Sleeves, Japan!, presented by the Japanese Society of Hypertension and the Japan Association of Hypertension, sponsored by Novartis Pharma KK with special support from Omron Healthcare and endorsed by the Japan Stroke Association and Healthy Japan 21 National Promotion Committee. For more information go to http://www.ketsuatsu.com .

The President of the Japan Hypertension Association, Dr. Kikuo Arakawa, Professor Emeritus, Fukuoka University said, "Maintaining target blood pressure levels is important in managing high blood pressure and its associated risks, such as stroke and heart disease -- the second and third leading causes of death in Japan. On World Hypertension Day, we aimed to increase awareness for high blood pressure and also set the first world record for the most number of blood pressure readings in a 24 hour period. We are pleased to have accomplished both."

The education campaign, Roll Up Your Sleeves, Japan! (May 12-19), is raising awareness of high blood pressure -- a leading cause of death in Japan - and the importance of reaching target BP levels between 120/80 and 140/90. Optimal blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg, however, BP levels are individual and must take into consideration other health-related conditions. People are encouraged to speak with a physician about the right BP target for them.

Novartis Pharma KK, CEO, Nobuyuki Baba said, "Educating people about high blood pressure, a leading cause of death in Japan, is an important mission for Novartis. Through Roll Up Your Sleeves, Japan! we hope people learn that with appropriate blood pressure management and reaching target BP goals, you can reduce the risk of consequences related to high blood pressure such as stroke and heart disease. We are thrilled to have Roll Up Your Sleeves, Japan! make history with a world record for the most number of BP readings in 24 hours. We thank the thousands of individuals who rolled up their sleeves on World Hypertension Day to raise awareness for high blood pressure and to help set a Guinness World Record first."

Chiba Lotte Marines manager, Bobby Valentine, stated, "The Marines are proud to have participated in Roll Up Your Sleeves, Japan! in an effort to raise awareness for high blood pressure and to have helped set a new Guinness World Record(TM). We look forward to challenging this record next year but even better would be to have a stadium full of people that are within the BP success zone!"

Kaoru Ishikawa, Records Manager of the Guinness World Records(TM) (UK) who attended yesterday’s event stated, "On behalf of Guinness World Records, congratulations Roll Up Your Sleeves, Japan! for setting the world record for the most number of blood pressure readings in 24 hours. We are pleased to have seen so many people participate in the world record attempt on World Hypertension Day, May 17, 2007."

About World Hypertension Day

World Hypertension Day was initiated in 2005 by the World Hypertension League, a part of the International Hypertension Society. More than 25 countries participated in World Hypertension Day this year, holding activities to raise awareness about high blood pressure, a disease affecting one in four adults around the world.

About Guinness World Records

Guinness World Records is the universally recognized authority on record-breaking achievement. First published in 1955, the annual Guinness World Records book is published in more than 100 countries and 20 languages and is one of the highest-selling books under copyright of all time with more than 3 million copies sold annually across the globe. Guinness World Records celebrated its 50th anniversary edition in 2004, a year after the sale of its 100 millionth copy. The Guinness World Records website ( http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com ) receives more than 11 million visitors a year. Guinness World Records is published by HIT Entertainment Limited, a fully integrated global studio with divisions in the U.K., U.S., Canada and Japan, including broadcast production and distribution, video and audio sales, consumer products licensing and marketing.

About Novartis Pharma KK

Novartis Pharma KK is a subsidiary of Novartis AG. Novartis AG (NYSE: NVS) is a world leader in offering medicines to protect health, treat disease and improve well-being. Our goal is to discover, develop and successfully market innovative products to treat patients, ease suffering and enhance the quality of life. We are strengthening our medicine-based portfolio, which is focused on strategic growth platforms in innovation-driven pharmaceuticals, high-quality and low-cost generics, human vaccines and leading self-medication OTC brands. Novartis is the only company with leadership positions in these areas. In 2006, the Group’s businesses achieved net sales of USD 37.0 billion and net income of USD 7.2 billion. Approximately USD 5.4 billion was invested in R&D. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis Group companies employ approximately 101,000 associates and operate in over 140 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com .

Source: Novartis Pharma KK
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