September is known to be the month of blossoms; it’s also known to be Heart Awareness Month. The month is dedicated to raising awareness about cardiovascular disease in South Africa.
September 29 will be World Heart Day, culminating to this we need to develop healthy lifestyles. Heart disease is a major cause of death in South Africa and according to a report released in 2014 by the World Heart Federation’s Global Cardiovascular Disease Atlas, more South Africans are dying from heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases than ever before.
Also according to this report – South Africa has the world’s highest rate of high blood pressure among people over the age of 50. The good news is, it’s also one of the most preventable diseases.
The rising cardiovascular disease rates can be attributed to unhealthy living. South Africans are eating more processed fast foods high in sugar and salt, resulting in increased heart disease and obesity.
In fact according to the Heart and Stroke Foundations, South Africa has the highest overweight and obesity rate in sub-Saharan Africa, with up to 70 percent of women and a third of men being classified as overweight or obese.
Making heart-healthy choices, knowing your family health history and the risk factors for heart disease, having regular check-ups and managing your health are all important aspects of saving lives from this often silent killer.
Here are some measures to prevent heart disease:
Eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly and being aware of the risk factors such as smoking, drinking, taking drugs, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and stress will go a long way in protecting your heart health.
Also try having more fish and cut down on saturated fat and salt.
Monitor your cholesterol and your blood pressure frequently as these contribute to heart damage.
For smokers, quitting is absolutely the best move you can make to protect your heart.
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