Hypertension: Combat the ‘silent killer’

TODAY,  May 17, is World Hypertension Day. With 6.3 million people living with high blood pressure, South Africa has one of the highest rates of hypertension worldwide.

Many remain unaware because the condition usually has no symptoms. This hidden epidemic results in over nine million deaths every year around the world.

Hypertension has devastating effects in this country, making people more susceptible to life-threatening diseases such as stroke and heart disease. If left uncontrolled, high blood pressure can also cause blindness, kidney disease and heart failure and the risk increases in the presence of other risk factors such as diabetes.

It is estimated that around 20 000 South Africans per year present with kidney failure. These numbers are expected to grow exponentially at seven percent per year. In many of the cases kidney disease can be linked to untreated hypertension, diabetes and obesity.

A survey shows that very few doctors are checking for kidney disease, with only about half of patients presenting with kidney disease having any prior evidence of their blood pressure being controlled.

However, the good news is that high blood pressure is both preventable and treatable. Prevention and treatment of the condition in some countries, together with tackling other cardiovascular risk factors, has shown that these interventions can reduce deaths.

The Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa advises you to minimise your risk of developing high blood pressure by making the following lifestyle changes:

* Reducing your salt intake;

* Eating a balanced diet, rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fibre and fatty fish and limiting red or fatty meat and fried and high fat foods;

* Avoiding harmful use of alcohol;

* Taking regular exercise;

* Maintaining a healthy body weight;

* Avoiding tobacco use.