Last year Solomon Ndlovu was a happy man. He felt healthy. He had a good job. He loved his family. And his family loved him. Life was going well. Then ‘The Silent Killer’ got him.
Solomon Ndlovu woke up in hospital. He couldn’t walk. He couldn’t talk properly. Now he still can’t walk. And he still can’t talk properly.
‘The Silent Killer’ always comes suddenly. People don’t get any warnings. One day they feel well and healthy. The next day ‘The Silent Killer’ gets them.
‘The Silent Killer’ gets many black people in South Africa. Sometimes ‘The Silent Killer’ gives people a stroke -like Solomon Ndlovu. Sometimes ‘The Silent Killer’ damages people’s hearts. And sometimes ‘The Silent Killer’ damages people’s kidneys.
‘The Silent Killer’ has another name -High Blood Pressure. When people have high blood pressure (HBP), their blood moves too strongly through their bodies.
WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE GET HBP?
Fat people. People who smoke. People who have family with HBP. People who drink a lot of liquor. People who take a lot of pills for pains. People who have diabetes, the ‘sugar’ sickness. People who eat too much salt. People who worry a lot.
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE HBP?
People can’t tell when they have HBP. People with HBP don’t feel anything. Only a doctor or nurse can tell if you have HBP. The doctor or nurse must give you a test for blood pressure. The blood pressure test is quick, easy and not painful. “All black people over 30 years must have a blood pressure test at least once a year,” a doctor told Learn and Teach.
WHAT CAN YOU DO IF YOU HAVE HBP?
People with HBP must change the way they live. They must try to follow some rules. These rules are also good for people who do not have HBP. They are good for everyone
Don’t get fat. Don’t eat too much sugar, bread, sweets, rice, potatoes and pap .
Don’t eat one big meal a day. Rather eat three small meals .
Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Cereals are also good .
Don’t eat salt with your food. Look at the labels of food you buy. If you see the words ‘salt’ or ‘sodium’, the food is not good for you.
Eat slowly and enjoy your food .
Do not smoke .
Try not to worry too much .
Have your blood pressure checked whenever you can.
These rules will help people with HBP. But some people also need pills. The doctor will give these people pills. But people who take the pills must still follow the rules.
FOR HOW LONG MUST YOU TAKE THE PILLS?
If you take pills for HBP, you must take the pills for the rest of your life. You must take the pills even when you feel healthy. If you stop taking the pills, you will get sick. You may even die.
Beat ’the Silent Killer’ Go for a blood pressure test