03 April - Blood Pressure

Today we spoke to Erika Ketterer - from Heart and Stroke Foundation of South Africa. We spoke to her about the importance of checking your blood. She said that it is known as the ‘silent killer’ because there are rarely visible symptoms. More advanced cases may cause headaches behind the eyes, visual disturbances, nausea and vomiting, sleepiness and even seizures in severe instances. Two out of three people with high blood pressure are unaware of the condition.
It is estimated that 1 in 4 South Africans between the ages of 15 and 64 years suffers from high blood pressure. It is one of the leading causes of heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure and premature death. For more information you can contact the Heart and Stroke Foundation of South Africa at 021 447 4222 or you can email them at heart@heartfoundation.co.za