High blood pressure is a deadly condition and many people suffering from it may be totally unaware of its dangerous and potentially fatal risks to their health.

 

This is why the Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART) in the Faculty of Health Sciences is doing its part to promote blood pressure awareness and measurement.

 

During the whole of May Measurement Month (MMM) and on World Hypertension Day on 17 May, HART supported the various screening and awareness projects that were held on the NWU’s campuses and in the surrounding communities.

 

The aim was to encourage members of the general public to have their blood pressure measured, free of charge.

 

The activities started on 1 and 2 May with the #ProPotch NWU extreme challenge weekend at Lekwena Wildlife Estate, and continued with various blood pressure screenings in public places in and around Potchefstroom in mid-May.

 

Similar screenings will be done in Mahikeng and in the Vanderbijlpark area, depending on how the current Covid-19 situation develops.

 

A leading cause of death

 

Prof Carina Mels, director of HART, says the dangers of hypertension should never be under-estimated. “In South Africa, non-communicable diseases, to which hypertension is a major contributor, are now one of the leading causes of death and disability.”

 

Carina says blood pressure statistics are only released every four years and new statistics have yet to be released.

 

“However, previous statistics clearly showed that a staggering 34,6% of people who get tested during the hypertension awareness projects were found to have hypertension.”

 

She says that a massive 56,7% of those whose screening revealed high blood pressure were totally unaware that they had problems in this regard.

 

“What is even more concerning is that only 49,2% of people suffering from high blood pressure were receiving antihypertensive medication.” Carina says the proportion of those who already received treatment for blood pressure was only 28,3%.