By Tswelopele Makoe
Today, the 29th of September, marks the annually celebrated international World Heart Day (WHD).
This day is not only about raising awareness, but also spreading knowledge about the grave impact of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) in our society.
In South Africa, approximately one in six deaths (17.3%) are a result of CVD. The Heart and Stroke Foundation of South Africa reported that 215 people die every day from heart disease or strokes. They further emphasised that every hour, five people have heart attacks, 10 people have strokes, and 10 of these people will die from these fatal events.
The seriousness of CVD is not to be underestimated.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death and disability worldwide, resulting in 17.9 million deaths yearly (31% of the deaths in the entire world). Cardiovascular diseases affect over 500 million people globally, with stroke being a leading cause of disability and death.
The World Heart Federation has declared the theme for this year’s WHD as: “Use Heart For Action.” This emphasises empowering and supporting individuals to take charge of their heart health, and rallying leaders to take CVD seriously.
This theme is more so underscoring the importance of early detection, prevention, and combating CVD.
Both national and globally, health organisations, civil society, and advocates have been driving the rate of awareness and education around heart health, placing emphasis on a balanced diet, regular exercise, and routine health check-ups as key to combating heart diseases and stroke.
In addition to this, particular conditions can largely increase one’s chance of being afflicted by CVD, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, obesity and even genetics.
In South Africa, we live in the most unequal society in the world. Over half of the entire population live below the poverty line, and the structural inequalities in household incomes and access to food deeply affect the health of our citizens.
Essentially, people are suffering from the effects of being underweight or obese, and from malnutrition because they can't afford healthy, nutritious food. Hunger and unhealthy diets are symptoms of poverty.
Despite widespread stereotypes, those who experience food poverty are not ignorant to a healthy lifestyle. In fact, research shows that the majority of people in society shape a healthy lifestyle around access to affordable healthy food.
Low-income households, however, are likely to obtain foods that are filling over foods that are high in nutrients. As such, a limited budget means that food choices, such as pap or beans, are more realistic than food choices such as lettuce, peppers or apples.
Purchasing patterns of citizens directly correlate with their economic reality, meaning that for some, it is not always possible to obtain healthier, nutritious foods.
Unfortunately, this can result in negative affects over a long period of time. Food choices can lead to higher risks of malnutrition, diabetes, osteoporosis, and hypertension, to name a few.
This is further compounded by the fact that South African medical industries are overwhelmingly overburdened. Innumerable people simply cannot afford quality medical care, particularly when issues pertaining to heart health arise.
A report from the World Health Organisation showed that a staggering 50% of the nation is physically inactive. Not only can this lead to an array of health problems, but also deeply impact one’s mental health, causing anxiety, depression and stress, to name a few.
Health professionals all over the world agree on one thing: some moderate exercise is far better than none at all. Different activities such as walking to the shops, taking the stairs (instead of a lift), partaking in home exercises such as yoga or pilates, are all ways in which one’s heart health can be radically improved.
In South Africa, there is an alarming rise in heart disease, and this issue needs to be addressed with the seriousness that it deserves.
Heart diseases are a culmination of various challenges, and ultimately impact people in a variety of ways.
Hospitalisation and disabilities can indefinitely halt one’s life and progression. This can result in one’s home and stability being threatened.
It is absolutely appalling that one’s economic situation can lead to worsened health, which ultimately leads to worsened economic instability.
It is a never ending, rather futile cycle that countless people are stuck in.
This WHD should shine a light on the intricacies and intersectional ways in which our society, our economy and our institutional systems are driving citizens’ health into the ground. It is vital, now more than ever, that leaders are held accountable for the quality of life of their citizens, and the intentional (often economically driven) decisions that are made, that adversely impact the people.
In SA, deaths that result from CVD far surpass the deaths from all of the cancers combined. Health education, community initiatives, and healthcare resources are critical to combating the scourge of cardiovascular diseases.
This cannot be singularly addressed by the medical community, but must also be undertaken in education institutions, in communities, in households, and by individuals. Governance has a responsibility to acknowledge the rampant effects of CVD, and meaningfully address this – even if it means legislative reform.
The health of citizens is paramount and should be at the top of the national agenda. It is, in fact, the citizens of a nation that equate to its value, and as such, our leaders should be making radical strides towards our empowerment and betterment, particularly when it comes to health.
A sickly citizen is unproductive and impeded from fully contributing to society in the ways that they are needed.
It is vital that our government pulls itself up by the bootstraps and take its citizens’ health seriously. Our Constitution bestows the right to health, to access, and to a good quality of life. This needs to be reflected in our lived realities.
World Heart Day serves as a crucial reminder of the intentional collective efforts that are needed to drive the knowledge about heart health and foster a healthier future for all. Every household is unique and should set realistic goals towards a healthier lifestyle. Maintaining a healthy heart is essential not only for longevity but also for overall quality of life. Education about CVD is crucial and should be prioritised by all in order to proactively shape a healthier future.
A 19th century writer, Josh Billings, once candidly observed that: “Health is like money, we never have a true idea of its value until we lose it.”
Tswelopele Makoe is a Gender & Social Justice Activist and the Editor at Global South Media Network. She is a Researcher and Columnist, published weekly in the Sunday Independent, Independent Online (IOL), Global South Media Network (GSMN), Sunday Tribune and Eswatini Daily News. She is also an Andrew W. Mellon scholar, pursuing an MA Ethics at the Desmond Tutu Centre for Religion and Social Justice, UWC. The views expressed are her own.