Heart Awareness Month is celebrated annually in September, this month is dedicated to raising awareness about cardiovascular disease in South Africa.
Heart Awareness Month has long been a platform for raising awareness about heart disease and highlighting the importance of a healthy lifestyle and appropriate treatment. This year, the theme for Heart Awareness Month is to HaveHeart and show you care!
The biggest risk factors for heart disease include a high blood pressure, smoking, obesity and diabetes. Dr Mungal-Singh, the foundation’s CEO and vice president of the World Heart Federation says ‘Scarily, more than 1 in 3 adults in South Africa live with high blood pressure. Even more worrying, most people are completely unaware that they are sitting on this ticking time bomb!’
Do you know your numbers?
If the answer is no, then don’t be an ostrich with your head in the sand! Go get tested. Dis-Chem are offering FREE screening tests. Encourage your family and friends to take a selfie while being screened! Then post this on the HSFSA Facebook page or tweet the selfie to @SAHeartStroke using the hashtag #HaveHeart. By sharing the screening selfie with the HSFSA, you stand a chance of winning great prizes!
According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of South Africa, apart from getting tested, a healthy lifestyle is at the heart of preventing this disease. And I so agree with them! Eating a heart healthy diet is SO important! Think long term, start today! Prevention is KEY!
How to eat more healthy? Here are so more blog posts to help you get there…
- Healthy cabbage salad recipe
- Increase your intake of vegetables
- Quick easy healthy snacks
- Roasted chickpeas salad recipe