Every September, we observe World Heart Day on the 29th and Heart Awareness Month throughout the month. This is a good time to reflect on the choices we make about our health, especially when it comes to our hearts.
The decisions we make today will not only affect us but may influence the health of future generations. Heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure (hypertension) are serious issues in South Africa, and if we don’t take action, the problem will only get worse.
According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA (HSFSA), a staggering 215 people die each day in South Africa from heart disease or strokes.
Even more concerning, more than 45% of adults in the country suffer from hypertension, a leading cause of heart disease. And these numbers are on the rise, which is why experts are urging us to take our heart health seriously.
Prevention is better than cure
Ryan Snodgrass, the Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Product Manager for Pharma Dynamics, stressed the need for change.
“As the largest supplier of cardiovascular medicine in the country, Pharma Dynamics is acutely aware of the need to shift its focus from treatment to prevention,” he said.