Heart disease can be prevented if you follow a healthy lifestyle earlier on in life. Most people with heart disease can be successfully treated. This can be achieved through regular blood pressure and cholesterol tests and through educating families about heart health.

Jacques du Plessis, Managing Director of Netcare's Hospital Division, says: "The South African lifestyle of 'braaivleis, rugby and sunny skies' does not help, and tends to encourage a diet very high in fats that can be harmful to the cardiovascular system.

"Add full-cream milk, cream, cheese, ice cream, French fries, meat pies and pastry to all that meat you eat and you could well be headed for a cholesterol problem.

"Stress is also very prevalent in today's fast-moving world. Needless to say, long-term exposure to all of these factors may cause damage to the cardiovascular system over time and eventually even a heart attack or stroke."

Dr Charmaine Pailman, Managing Director of the Netcare Primary Healthcare Division, says that high blood pressure generally leads to three major illnesses, namely stroke, heart and kidney disease. It can, however, be prevented by timorous diagnosis and intervention.

Smokers are at considerable risk in developing atherosclerotic blockages in the blood vessels of the heart.

"An end to a lifelong smoking habit can literally cut the risk of coronary artery disease by half while there would be at least 30 percent fewer deaths a year from heart disease if all South Africans quit smoking," she cautions.

Statistics have shown that South African women, who are traditionally less susceptible to heart disease than males, are nevertheless highly vulnerable, with one in four women succumbing to coronary heart disease by the age of 60.

Another important risk factor in causing heart disease is raised cholesterol. Many South Africans are genetically predisposed towards raised cholesterol.

Dr Pailman recommends that a cholesterol test should be taken at least once by everyone over the age of 35, and regularly monitored in patients with a known history of high cholesterol and blood lipid disorders.

Free screenings will be held at selected Netcare Hospitals and Medicross Family Medical and Dental Centres nationwide between 8am and 6pm on Friday, 25 September and between 8.30am and 1pm on Saturday, 26 September 2009. For more information log on to www.netcare.co.za.

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