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22 January 2007
Everyone knows the seriousness of breast cancer and the need for women to constantly check their breasts for lumps and have regular mammograms when they reach a certain age. What is not widely known is that heart disease kills six times more women than breast cancer.
Although one in three men and one in four women suffer from cardiovascular disease in South Africa, there is very little public awareness around this. Another factor that adds to this statistic is that women also show the biggest increase in obesity, which heightens the risk.
"It's a lifestyle disease. Today's woman has to make time for her work and family, often leaving little time to worry about herself. Through our Challenge Complacency Campaign, we want to make women aware of the risks of heart disease now whilst they still have time to change their lives," says Shân Biesman-Simons, Director of Nutrition and Education of the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA.
The sad reality is that this disease can also affect entire families. Today, even children are falling into risk categories earlier and earlier. It's so much more convenient to buy fast food - the name says it all - than to arrive home after work and start preparing a meal from scratch. And nearly every home has a television and computer, therefore kids don't need to leave the couch to be entertained which means they are exercising less which also puts them at risk.
South Africans need to be made aware of the risks of heart disease - before it's too late...
We have cardiologists and experts in this field ready to be interviewed and give any information needed to get this message across to your readers, as well as ordinary South Africans who have suffered from heart disease and are happy to share their stories.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michelle Kearney,
Project Director: Communications & Public Relations,
The Heart and Stroke Foundation SA
+27-21-447 4222 -
email: michelle@heartfoundation.co.za
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