High blood pressure needs to be carefully managed, or it could have serious consequences for your health. We’re here to help.
One in every three South African adults live with chronic high blood pressure, according to the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA. This is a concerning statistic, given that hypertension is a risk factor responsible for many heart attacks, and half of all recorded strokes.
Heart attacks and strokes are severe medical emergencies that require urgent and expert medical treatment. If you experience early warning signs – including pain in the chest, weakness of one side of the body or slurred speech – or notice them in someone else, call 084 124 for immediate assistance or visit your closest Emergency Centre for immediate care.
The good news is, hypertension can be managed.
Your lifestyle plays a crucial role. Staying active as you age and keeping your weight under control can go a long way in keeping your blood pressure at a normal level. Cutting back on smoking, refined sugar, processed and high-salt foods will help further.
One of the best habits you can adopt is to see your doctor regularly. Depending on how serious your high blood pressure is, or if you also show other risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol, a history of smoking or diabetes, you may need regular consultations or check-ups – as often as weekly.
If you’ve been isolating and delaying care, your doctor is now able to welcome you back for consultations and treatment. Although it’s still important to limit your exposure to others during this uncertain time, seeking help if you’re unwell – or undergoing necessary treatment and having routine screening tests – is vital for your wellbeing.
Seeing your doctor for regular check-ups is essential because high blood pressure is a silent condition with potentially deadly consequences. Most people with hypertension experience no visible symptoms until it’s too late.
Early diagnosis and proactive, accurate monitoring are key steps. When you have your blood pressure tested, you doctor will use a stethoscope or electronic sensor, together with a blood pressure cuff, to take a few readings. If those readings reveal that your systolic blood pressure (SBP) is 140 or higher, and your diastolic blood pressure (DPR) is 90 or higher, you are hypertensive.
If you have a niggling health concern, are due for routine tests or have postponed certain procedures and consultations during the COVID-19 lockdown, you can now go to your nearest Mediclinic with confidence.