“Know Your Risk, Treat Your Numbers” aims to raise South Africans’ awareness as cardiovascular disease remains the world’s #1 killer.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa, SA HeartÒ, Lipid and Atherosclerosis Society of Southern Africa (LASSA), Global Alliance for Patient Access, and a group of South African cardiovascular disease experts have launched a new campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of high cholesterol and other risk factors for heart disease and strokes.
“Know Your Risk, Treat Your Numbers” encourages people to prevent high cholesterol and manage it by:
- Knowing your risk: referring to a common list of risk factors to establish risk for high cholesterol as well as heart diseases and strokes
- Treating your numbers: Getting tested for high cholesterol and if levels are high
“The most effective strategy for tackling high cholesterol is for patients to establish their risk, get tested and start treatment recommended by their health care provider as early as possible. As doctors and health advocates, we must intensify our commitment to ensuring that patients at risk for high cholesterol, heart disease and strokes get adequate support to manage their conditions,” said Dr Blanche Cupido, President of SA HeartÒ.
Cardiovascular Risk & COVID-19
With emerging evidence indicating that cardiovascular patients have an increased risk of severe complications and death from COVID-19, preventing cardiovascular diseases and its risk factors has become more urgent than ever.
“Before the COVID-19 pandemic, our country was already grappling with a dangerous combination of many life-threatening epidemics,” said Professor Pamela Naidoo, CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation. “The increasing rate of heart disease and strokes over the years and risk of patients having worse COVID-19 outcomes indicates that we have to mobilize to prevent and manage the complex burden of co-morbidities”
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