High blood pressure on the rise

MORE than 40% of Africans suffer from high blood pressure, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says.

The organisation recently revealed that worldwide, raised blood pressure was estimated to cause 7.5 million deaths, about 12.8% of the total of all deaths.

“Raised blood pressure is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, ischemic as well as hemorrhagic stroke.

“Blood pressure levels have been shown to be positively and continuously related to the risk for stroke and coronary heart disease.”

High blood pressure puts extra strain on heart and blood vessels. Over time, this extra strain increases your risk of a heart attack or stroke.

“Across the WHO regions, the prevalence of raised blood pressure was highest in Africa, where it was 46% for both sexes combined.

Globally, the overall prevalence of raised blood pressure in adults aged 25 and over was around 40% in 2008.

The proportion of the world’s population with high blood pressure, or uncontrolled hypertension, fell modestly between 1980 and 2008.

However, because of population growth and ageing, the number of people with uncontrolled hypertension rose from 600 million in 1980 to nearly 2008.

Eastern Cape health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said the department of health wanted to encourage people to adopt a healthy lifestyle – eat healthy foods and be active, walking for at least 30 minutes a day.

The Dispatch visited various websites which offer information about the types of food people should eat and what they should not eat.

With the festive season in full swing, many people abandon their healthy lifestyles and eat sodium rich food. Some of those foods include the following: ● Processed meats ● Frozen pizza ● Ready-to-eat boxed meals and side dishes

● Sugar-sweetened beverages

● Canned and pickled vegetables and vegetable juice

● Canned and instant soup and

● Canned tomato products and tomato juice.

While some food is sodium-packed and not good for you, others can lower blood pressure.

These include: peas, baked potato, celery, green beans, papaya, oatmeal, guava, yoghurt, kiwi fruit, blueberries, spinach, avocados, prunes and watermelon.

● Additional information sourced from one

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— ● See also page 11 in