Lifestyle changes for hypertension

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of deaths worldwide, killing 17 million people annually. Hypertension, as an intermediate risk factor for CVD, is responsible for a significant percentage of the high rates of heart disease and stroke in South Africa. The burden is massive, with approximately 6.3 million people being hypertensive. Only 14% are controlled.¹ Modifiable risk factors, including an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use and the harmful use of alcohol, lead to raised blood pressure, blood glucose and abnormal blood lipid levels, as well as overweight and obese states. Socio-economic modernisation breeds unhealthy lifestyles, and drives the rise in modifiable risk factors, with a parallel increase in hypertension rates.^2,3 Addressing these risk factors can help avoid up to 80% of heart disease and stroke. Furthermore, these four risk factors are common causal factors for four diseases, i.e. CVD, diabetes, cancer, and chronic lung diseases (also termed noncommunicable diseases, or NCDs). Thus, a greater health impact can be achieved by addressing the four risk factors. Up to 80% of premature heart disease and stroke, 80% of type 2 diabetes and 40% of cancers are preventable.^4,5