Cape Town - Every hour across the world five people suffer a heart attack. In South Africa, cardiovascular disease (CVD), which includes heart disease and strokes, is the second biggest killer after HIV and Aids.
According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa, 80 percent of cardiovascular disease can be prevented by leading a healthy lifestyle through a healthy and balanced diet and exercise routine.
Once thought to affect only the elderly, heart disease now affects people of working age, with more than half of all deaths occurring in people under the age of 65 years, says Dr Vash Mungal-Singh, the chief executive officer of The Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa.
“Heart disease is affecting everyone and not just old people. It’s not a disease of old people and that is the perception out there, unfortunately,” says Mungal-Singh.
“More and more younger people are being affected. These days we are seeing people at the ages of 30, 35 having heart attacks and the reason is that we are carrying so many risk factors from childhood. We have young children who are already hypertensive… young children who are obese or overweight. And as a result, these diseases are now manifesting at a much younger age.”
September is Heart Awareness Month. It is dedicated to raising awareness about cardiovascular disease and prevention in South Africa and will lead up to World Heart Day on September 29. The theme for this year is “Have Heart and show you care” by getting tested for blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol.
“We are asking people to know whether they are at risk of having a heart attack and having strokes. We are saying go and get tested and screened during September,” says Mungal-Singh.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa has partnered with Dis-Chem pharmacies nationwide to offer free screening and testing of blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol levels throughout the month. Screenings will be carried out by trained nurses and should take 10 to 15 minutes.
People screened can use the information to find out just how “old” their heart is by using the online Heart Age Calculator tool at www.heart age.co.za.
If their heart age is older than their actual age, this means certain factors are putting them at a greater risk for heart disease, and they should take steps towards living a healthier lifestyle – such as eating better, drinking less, not smoking and being more active.
The foundation held a launch last week at which members of the media cooked a healthy three-course meal. Facilitated by chef Ronan Boucher, the meals included a selection of tasty dishes, from an Indian summer salad to pistachio and yoghurt chicken curry, spicy butter bean bites and a fresh fruit and peanut butter dip for dessert.
Although most of the participants were initially sceptical about the meal choices, the not-so common combinations turned out to be delectable… proving that eating healthily can be delicious.
“Making healthy eating easy and interesting is simple, just use fresh ingredients,” says Boucher.
“Use combinations that work well together such as chicken and vegetables… Grill the chicken rather than keeping the skin on and roasting it. Pair that with a fresh salad of greens, such as spinach.
“The main thing is to keep it in moderation by practising portion control and not to overindulge… eat slowly and eat smaller amounts of food at a time and, in that way, you will enjoy the food,” he adds.
* The Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa will be conducting community visits to remote towns that are too far to access a pharmacy for screening during the Have Heart campaign. Visit the website www.heartfoundation.co.za for more information, or call 0860 143 278.
Fresh fruit and peanut butter dip
Peanut butter and fruit can help to curb your sweet tooth craving. The peanut butter adds a slightly sweeter flavour to the yoghurt, making it ideal for those late afternoon munches.
3 tbsp (45 ml) peanut butter
½ cup (125 ml) Plain low-fat yoghurt
Four apples or pears, cut in wedges (use any types of fruits as an alternative)
Make sure you use a good quality peanut butter that is lower in salt and sugar.
Place peanut butter in a bowl and mix until slightly softened.
Stir in the yoghurt and mix well until smooth. Serve peanut butter dip with fruit wedges as a mid-afternoon snack. This is also a great lunch box filler for kids.
* Recipe by Heleen Meyer, from Cooking from the Heart 2 with Pharma Dynamics
Spread the word
* Get screened at your nearest Dis-chem pharmacy for free during this month, or your nearest community clinic. Call 08601 43278 for more information on community screenings done by the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA.
* Join the campaign and post a photo of you getting tested with your numbers on the HSFSA Facebook wall to stand a chance of winning a spot prize.
* Spread the word of looking after your heart – use the hashtags #HaveHeart and #KnowYourNumbers.
The facts
* South Africa has one of the highest rates of high blood pressure worldwide: 1 in 3 adults suffer from high blood pressure.
* High blood pressure is a silent killer – 75 percent of people with high blood pressure don’t even know they have it.
* 1 in 5 children in South Africa smoke.
* 1 in 2 adults and a quarter of children in South Africa are overweight.
* 210 people die from heart related diseases every day.
(Heart and Stroke Foundation SA)
Make the change
Act now to know your numbers. Getting screened opens you up to knowing your blood pressure level, whether your weight is healthy (body mass index), your blood sugar level and knowing what puts you at risk.
Many of us think “I feel fine, it won’t happen to me” – these are famous last words but, in truth, knowing is empowering. Screening only takes a few minutes, and it can be the best few minutes spent investing in yourself.
* Live healthy: Once you have been screened, Heart and Stroke Foundation SA encourages you to take action:
* Eat better – This means eating more of the foods we know are good, like fruit and vegetables, whole grains, beans and lentils, lean protein foods and dairy products. Eat less of the bad stuff like sugar, salt and bad fats; and eat the right amount to maintain a healthy weight.
* Move more – we all need to get moving. Exercise keeps us healthy to maintain a healthy blood pressure and a healthy weight. This doesn’t have to be in the gym, anything that increases the heart rate counts. Try brisk walking, dancing or even gardening.
* Stop smoking – if you are a smoker, this will double your risk of a heart attack. Start cutting down today and you will start feeling better in as little as two weeks. To get the full benefits you have to quit for life.
After adopting a healthy diet and lifestyle, pass those on to your children, families and communities.
Nontando Mposo, Cape Argus