Lifestyle diseases, like hypertension, are on the rise because South Africans are getting too fat, eat too much junk food and get too little exercise.

High blood pressure, or hypertension (the technical term for persistently high blood pressure), has increased at such a rate among old and young that the

African Union has called it one of the continent’s greatest health challenges after AIDS.

In South Africa, an estimated five million people already have high blood pressure and face the risk of a heart attack. this figure is expected to rise dramatically, warns the Medical Research Council.

Lifestyle diseases, like hypertension, are on the rise because South Africans are getting too fat, eat too much junk food and get too little exercise.

High blood pressure, or hypertension (the technical term for persistently high blood pressure), has increased at such a rate among old and young that the

African Union has called it one of the continent’s greatest health challenges after AIDS.

In South Africa, an estimated five million people already have high blood pressure and face the risk of a heart attack. this figure is expected to rise dramatically, warns the Medical Research Council. It says the major cause of this worrying trend is an unhealthy lifestyle with a diet high in fat, particularly saturated fat, sugars and refinedcarbohydrates. In addition, most people don’t get enough exercise, resulting in weight gain and obesity. High blood pressure is regarded as a major health risk because it is the forerunner of more serious health problems such as heart attacks or strokes. Most people with high blood pressure either don’t receive treatment or it isn’t sufficient to keep it in check. Many people still believe it’s a condition that affects only elderly men. The reality is that women and children can also develop it. The danger of hypertension is that it is a silent killer. The harm it does happens without you even knowing about it. In most cases there are no symptoms at all until disaster strikes. The usual outcome is a heart attack or stroke.

WHAT IS BLOOD PRESSURE?

Blood pressure is the force of blood against artery walls.

Blood pressure readings are reported as two numbers:

1. the first number, or systolic reading, is the Reading when the heart is contracting and blood is being ejected into the arteries.
2. The second number, or diastolic reading, reflects the pressure that persists in the arteries after contraction of the heart muscle. The second number is therefore an indicator of the condition of your arteries and will tell you whether they have been narrowed as a result of atherosclerosis (when the artery walls have become thick and hard due to plaque). This is also the reason why doctors are more concerned about the second reading.

Experts these days believe that the readings of 120/80, which doctors regard as “normal” may in fact be too high and that the first number should be lower Than 115.The higher the first number, the greater your risk of suffering a heart attack.  Research has shown that men with a first reading of above 160 have 200% increased risk of dying from a heart attack.

WHY IS IT SO DANGEROUS?

Hypertension causes the heart to work harder than normal, putting more stress on the heart muscle and the cardiovascular system.
Both the heart and arteries are then more prone to injury. Hypertension also increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, aneurysms and kidney failure. if the condition isn’t treated, the heart may have to work harder and harder to pump enough blood and oxygen to the body’s organs and tissues. When the heart Is forced to work harder than normal for a prolonged period of time it tends to enlarge and weaken.High blood pressure also damages the inside layer of the Arteries. The result is that the walls of the arteries eventually become scarred, hardened and less elastic. If a person with hypertension has high Cholesterol, the deteriorating condition of the artery walls creates rough spots that serve as toeholds for circulating fats. As fats collect into plaque, They can break free. Breakaway plaque can lead to a heart attack or a stroke. About 75% of strokes are caused by a blood clot or loose plaque racing through The system and lodging in a vessel in the brain, cutting off the flow of oxygenated blood. Experts say an incorrect diet is the single most important cause Of hypertension.

DIET IS IMPORTANT

If you want to keep your blood pressure down, it’s best to follow a diet that is low in fats, salt, red meat, junk food and salty snacks, but high in fruits And vegetables.Fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants, which not only help to protect against free radical damage, but may also prevent hardening of The arteries. Studies have shown that free radicals, dangerous molecules produced in the body and in our environment (like air pollution and exhaust fumes) Play a major role in this process.

ANTIOXIDANTS

Recent research shows that taking an antioxidant supplement containing proanthocyanidins, which are the main ingredients of PROCYDIN, may help people with High blood pressure to reduce their dependence on the medication that keeps their blood pressure under control. Proanthocyanidins help to lower blood Pressure naturally. The highest concentrations of proanthocyanidins are found in pine bark and grape seed. PROCYDIN is made from grape-seed extract. Other research has shown that proanthocyanidin supplements, like Procydin, can help to protect the artery walls by stimulating collagen repair. This increases the strength and elasticity of the arteries, protecting them against rupture, leakage and degeneration. Collagen is the building block of veins and arteries.Proanthocyanidins also seem to reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol. Unfortunately, supplements alone will not keep you healthy. You will have to eat a balanced diet and make sure you get regular exercise. Exercise helps to lower blood pressure.
           

LOWER THE PRESSURE   

People who are already suffering from high blood pressure can significantly reduce their prescription medication by taking an antioxidant supplement to improve heart health, as shown by the results of a recent clinical study.In the study, published in the January 2005 issue of Life Sciences, researchers looked at the effects of daily supplementation with 100 milligrams of the antioxidant proanthocyanidins. The richest sources of proanthocyanidins are pine bark and grape seed. The study showed that 58 participants on high blood pressure medication were able to cut their dosage by almost half when they supplemented their diet with proanthocyanidins. Products made from pine-bark or grape-seed extract have for the past 35 years been widely used all over the world. PROCYDIN is made of grape-seed extract. Researchers say the blood pressure-lowering effects of the proanthocyanidins appeared to be caused by their effect on the endothelium, the innermost layer of the arteries, which expands and contracts in response to blood flow.