Residents encouraged to get a free health risk assessment

The Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa encourages all residents to get a free health risk assessment during Heart Awareness Month.

In South Africa, one in every five deaths are caused by cardiovascular diseases and globally over 17 million people die from cardiovascular diseases. Many lifestyle behaviours including poor nutrition, lack of exercise, tobacco smoking and excessive alcohol consumption drive the onset of these diseases.

During Heart Awareness Month the foundation will focus on three core messages in order to encourage people to reduce their risk of heart disease. These core messages include the increased risk that comes from smoking tobacco, nutrition and exercise and the link between hypertension and salt use.

Tobacco smoking triples the risk of having a heart attack and doubles the risk of having a stroke and globally one in eight deaths are tobacco-related. Those affected by second-hand smoke are at an increased risk of heart diseases as well.

Hypertension, also described as the ‘silent killer’, is related to 13 per cent of all deaths globally and is prevalent in one in three adults in South Africa. Although this is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, 50 per cent of individuals do not know that they are hypertensive. Excess salt intake is directly associated with raised blood pressure which may eventually lead to hypertension. Salt reduction is the simplest and most cost-effective way to help prevent circulatory health conditions.

An unhealthy diet and inactivity, leading to an unhealthy weight, increases the risk of heart disease. Modifying these high-risk behaviours could have exponential benefits for heart and overall health. A diet rich in diverse fruit and vegetables lowers your risk for many diseases of lifestyle, including heart disease and stroke. Regarding physical activity, people are encouraged to include exercise in their busy lifestyles to reach the recommended 150 active minutes a week.

Professor Pamela Naidoo, CEO of the foundation, urges all South Africans to have a health risk assessment, which includes checking their blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol levels, iron levels and weight, done for free during heart awareness month at all Dis-Chem Pharmacies. Naidoo also thanked Dis-Chem Pharmacies for partnering with the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease and to mobilise communities to know their diagnosis and get treatment when necessary.

Residents can have a free health risk assessment from any Dis-Chem Pharmacy from 3 September to 12 October this year.

For updates on World Heart Day activities visit www.heartfoundation.co.za

Will you get a health risk assessment during Heart Awareness Month? Share your thoughts on the initiative on the Sandton Chronicle Facebook page

Related Articles:

https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/188037/healthy-friday-6-healthy-snack-options-can-keep-desk-drawer/