Protect Your Heart. Protect Your Brain.
South Africa’s leading cause of death and disability, is cardiovascular disease, commonly referred to as heart disease or stroke. Which is why you need a healthy heart to protect the brain.
Nearly one in six deaths is caused by this disease, which claims more lives than all other diseases combined. Heart attacks and strokes claim 225 lives every day in South Africa. Rapid urbanisation has changed food consumption patterns for South Africans, leading to a diet high in processed foods and low in nutrition.
This and a combination of other factors, such as physical inactivity and smoking, has led to the steady rise in cardiovascular-related deaths. Many South African households are affected by these non-infectious diseases, placing additional pressure on a healthcare system that is already overburdened. We have compiled a list of preventative measures to ensure that you and your family can work towards having a healthy heart to protect your brain.
Preventing heart disease:
Heart conditions can be classified into several types under the term “heart disease”. However, there is a general preventative guide that will assist with almost every kind, such as:
- Exercising and following a healthy diet
- Not smoking or cutting down on smoking. This applies to every kind of tobacco and e-cigarette product that contains nicotine.
- Managing your weight.
Preventing a stroke:
A stroke is the result of extensive damage to the brain which cuts of its blood circulation. Suffering from a stroke can be life changing as it can alter your ability to walk, speak, or think critically. Below are preventative measures you can take to having a healthy heart to protect your brain and minimising the chances of a stroke:
- Make sure you monitor your cholesterol at all times, especially if you have a history.
- Make sure that if your blood pressure is a problem that you get it checked and implement ways to monitor it.
- If you struggle with comorbidities such as diabetes, make sure you follow your doctor’s advice to reduce the risk of both heart disease and stroke.
