CHOOSE SEPTEMBER TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS

September is Heart Awareness Month - dedicated to reducing the incidence of heart disease and empowering South Africans to live a longer, healthier life through regular health testing and simple lifestyle changes.

Mediclinic Southern Africa will be offering free blood pressure and cholesterol screenings at our hospitals throughout the month. (Enquire at your nearest Mediclinic hospital for details).

Here are the frigthening facts:
• 1 in 3 men and 1 in 4 women will develop a heart condition before the age of 60.
• 17,1 million people worldwide die every year from heart disease and stroke.
• 33 heart attacks and 37 heart failures occur daily in South Africa.
• 60 strokes occur in South Africa every day.
• Over 195 people die per day in South Africa due to cardiovascular disease, that's 13 taxi loads of people.

Therefore Hearth Month equals Know your numbers
Mediclinic Southern Africa has joined the campaign to reduce teh incidence of heart disease through education and support.

Heart smart health tips from the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA

• Eat a healthy, balanced diet including a variety of foods
• Eat smaller, more regular meals
•Choose the Heart Mark! Whens hopping, look out for products bearing this logo as these are heart healthier food choices that are lower in saturated fat, cholesterol, salt and sguar and often higher in fibre
• Include at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day
• Try to include fatty fish as part of your diet at least twice a week
• Limit the intake of red meat to 2-3 times per week
• Eat fats sparingly, limiting 'bad' fats and including more 'good' fats in your diet
• Limit your daily intake of foods high in cholesterol such as egg yolks, organ meats, calamari, shrimps and prawns
• Limit the intake of refined and sugary foods
• Have at least 2 servings of low fat milk/dairy products every day
• Use salt sparingly. Intake should be limited to 1 teaspoon a day (6g), remembering that processed foods also contain a lot of hidden salts
• If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. Limit to 1 drink/day in women and 2 drinks/day in men
• Control your weight through regular physical activity - aim for 30 minutes 5 times a week
• Manage stress. High stress is often linked to cardiovascular events
• Quit smoking or don't even start
• Know your numbers i.e. blood pressure, cholesterol and body mass index

Enquire at your Mediclinic during National Heart and Stroke Month for free cholesterol and blood pressure tests. Expertise you can trust.
For your hospital information click here.