| |
Durban 29th
September 2009 -
EHHC
commemorates World Heart Day
According to the WHO, cardiovascular diseases are the
world’s largest killers, claiming 17.1 million lives a
year. Risk factors for heart disease and stroke include
raised blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels,
smoking, inadequate intake of fruit and vegetables,
overweight, obesity and physical inactivity.
To commemorate World Health Day and to raise awareness
around Heart Health, Ethekwini Hospital & Heart Centre,
supported by Unilever, provided free medical testing to
the public. The tests included blood pressure, blood
glucose and cholesterol as well as Body Mass Index
(BMI).
In addition to the tests, professional nurses, a
biokineticist and a qualified dietician were on hand to
give advice on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
|
Hospital Marketing Manager, Mariann Theron, was pleased
to see so many people arrive to be tested. “We do these
programmes quite regularly and 10% of people screened
usually test positive for high blood pressure, glucose
or cholesterol. Those affected are given their results
and advised to make an appointment with their doctors
for discussion and treatment.” Early detection of
diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure allows
patients to obtain treatment and make lifestyle changes
before their condition becomes critical.
Heart Centre Manager, Jennifer Pieterse, was also
pleased with the response to the Heart Health
initiative. “We have a state of the art Heart Centre to
treat cardiovascular disease but the first prize is
always prevention. We take our hearts for granted and
only realise how vitally important it is to us when
there is a problem. The message is, look after your
heart today and it will look after you for the rest of
your life.”
|
|
