Are You At Risk From The ‘Silent Killer'?

Keeping your blood pressure under control is key to staying healthy, but the majority of us choose to ignore it. Health writer Faye M. Smith finds out why…

- Faye M. Smith

Do you know your blood pressure numbers? If the answer’s no, you’re not alone. Research by the University of the Witwatersrand found that only 54% of South African women were aware that they suffered from hypertension and, of those being treated, only half had the issue under control.

And while blood pressure doesn’t hit the headlines in the same way cancer and diabetes do, not knowing if you’re at risk is a serious concern. Why? Because high blood pressure is usually symptom-free until it starts to cause damage, dubbing it as the ‘silent killer’. Not only does it cost the government and medical aids millions per year, but you could be at risk of associated issues, such as heart problems, strokes and damage to other vital organs – all without you knowing it. Plus, new evidence from scientists in Chicago has linked high blood pressure to Alzheimer’s disease.

“Given the importance of blood pressure as an indicator of overall health, it’s shocking how few people prioritise taking their readings,” says GP Dr Achim Max Brenske. A quick test (using a cuff around your arm, which will puff up to apply pressure) will reveal your score. The ideal reading is 120/80mmHg, but if it’s 140/90mmHg or above, it’s considered high and will need to be assessed, as it can put your arteries and heart under huge strain.

“The only way that blood pressure readings will come into the mainstream is to make people aware of the importance of heart health from an early age, such as introducing blood pressure readings at school,” says Dr Brenske. “Then the 120/80 reading could become common knowledge – in the same way that five fruit and vegetables a day has become a mantra that everyone understands.”