Would you know if you had a ‘silent killer’?

MANY people are unaware that chronic health conditions – diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure – can damage the body even without noticeable symptoms.
Although these can occur individually, the three conditions are often interlinked and can significantly increase the chances of stroke, heart attack and premature death.
According to Joy Steenkamp, a pharmacist at South Africa’s largest national courier pharmacy, Medipost Pharmacy, the New Year is often the time people consider taking up a fitness regimen or eating more healthily.
However a crucial but often overlooked aspect of wellbeing is having routine health screenings.
‘Even if you feel healthy, be aware that you could be living with one or more of these underlying conditions without knowing it,’ explained Steenkamp.
‘With non-communicable diseases on the rise in South Africa, it is advisable for adults to screen for these common health threats each year so that any risks can be detected and managed early to ward off more serious complications in future.’

Diabetes – chronic high blood sugar
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects how the body breaks down sugar from food. While type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in childhood, type 2 diabetes develops over time and is more often diagnosed in adulthood.
‘Insulin is a hormone that helps control your body’s blood sugar levels,’ Steenkamp said. ‘If your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or cells stop responding to insulin, too much sugar remains in your bloodstream and can lead to serious health problems, including irreversible damage to the eyes, kidneys and other organs.
‘It is therefore critical to get tested regularly to know if you are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.’
She said modern medicine, regular exercise and a healthy diet can help control diabetes and keep blood sugar levels stable.

Hyperlipidaemia – high cholesterol
‘High cholesterol, or elevated levels of fat in the bloodstream, is another common non-communicable disease. People with high cholesterol usually do not have any symptoms, but if it remains undiagnosed and untreated, it significantly increases the risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke,’ Steenkamp added.
A simple blood test will indicate cholesterol levels. For those outside the healthy range, a doctor will prescribe chronic medicine to maintain cholesterol. A diet low in saturated fat and regular cardio exercise is also recommended.

Hypertension – high blood pressure
‘The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that almost half of people living with high blood pressure globally remain undiagnosed, and only one in five have their hypertension under control,’ Steenkamp explained.
When hypertension is not controlled, it places pressure on the cardiovascular system, potentially leading to heart attack, heart failure and stroke, as well as kidney damage.
‘Unmanaged, these conditions are associated with higher risk of hospitalisation and premature death, but these outcomes can be avoided with the right treatment. Once a person has been tested, they can improve their long-term health and avoid complications with treatment and lifestyle adjustments,’ she said.
‘It is of critical importance that you continue to take your medicine exactly as prescribed – even when you feel better.’

Supporting better health outcomes
‘Being diagnosed with a chronic condition and starting new medication can be daunting. To help make it as easy as possible, Medipost Pharmacy offers telephonic assistance from the pharmacy team in all official languages, as well as free delivery of chronic medicines to any address in South Africa,’ Steenkamp said.
‘To be effective, chronic medicine must be taken at the right dosage continuously, even when you’re on holiday or out of your usual routine.’
As part of its free delivery service for chronic medication, with advanced notice those registered with the courier pharmacy can have confidential parcels delivered to another address while away.
The service also includes assistance with registering PMB conditions, including diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidaemia, to help conserve medical scheme members’ day-to-day benefits.