The Specialist Forum Volume 13 No 11 November 2013 | Page 62

MARKET FORUM

Heart disease in SA reaching
‘alarming proportions’

A

s South Africa’s population becomes increasingly urbanised and
less active, serious heart conditions are on the rise and reaching
‘alarming proportions’, according to Dr Anchen Laubscher, medical director of the Netcare Hospital Division.
“One in three men and one in four women will have a heart condition of one kind or another by the time they reach the age of 60. This
avoidable health crisis will increasingly strain our healthcare system
unless individuals take ownership of their health and lifestyle choices,”
she said.

‘

One in three men and one in four women will
have a heart condition by age 60

Dr Laubscher said in recent years South Africans have become more
sedentary. People are exercising less and their diets have deteriorated
because they are consuming more and more processed and ‘junk
food’.

This is bad news for our health in general and more specifically,
for our hearts. Cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, high
cholesterol levels, diabetes and obesity have increased dramatically, Dr
Laubscher pointed out.
Dr Laubscher added that being overweight, having high blood pressure (hypertension), combined with uncontrolled high blood sugar
levels or high cholesterol, puts the heart at risk. “Most people are unaware that they are developing cardiovascular disease. During the early
stages, complications of risk factors such as diabetes, high cholesterol
and high blood pressure develop without any warning. This is why high
blood pressure is known as the ‘silent killer’,” she cautioned.  
Because there may be no indications that a person is developing
heart disease, it is important that doctors discuss risk factors with their
patients, particularly if there is a history of heart disease or any of the
afore mentioned risk factors in the family. According to Dr Laubscher,
a patient’s blood pressure should be checked annually if the results of
a test are within normal limits or more often if the results are borderline
or high.
“When a condition such as high blood pressure is detected early,

timeous and effective treatment can reverse the progression of heart
disease and make a world of difference to the health of the person
involved,” she noted.
Another common disease that can affect the heart and cardiovascular system is coronary heart disease (CHD). CHD is usually caused
by atherosclerosis, which is a build-up of fatty deposits of cholesterol
and other materials on the walls of the arteries. The arteries become
narrowed by the fatty deposits, which restricts the supply of blood
and oxygen to the heart and other vital organs such as the brain and
kidneys.
“This is potentially a very dangerous medical condition as it can place
a great deal of strain on the heart. A heart attack will result if an artery
is blocked by the fatty deposits. Some people have a genetic predisposition to atherosclerosis and an unhealthy lifestyle increases the risk,”
explained Dr Laubscher.
Heart disease often develops in people who smoke, eat foods high in
saturated fats, have high stress levels and get little exercise. These are
modifiable risk factors which can be addressed by lifestyle changes.
Not only will this benefit a patient’s heart, but his/her general health
as well.? CF

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November 2013 | Cardiology & Stroke Forum