Lifestyle diseases and the coronavirus: what you should know – Kempton Express

As the number of Covid-19 infections increases exponentially, health minister Zweli Mkhize has expressed concern about the risk group of South Africans suffering from high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity (comorbidities).

Comorbidity and comorbid conditions are common medical terms that refer to one or more diseases or conditions that occur along with another condition in the same person at the same time.

The worry, Mkhize said, is born of the fact that these are the most common underlying medical conditions of those who have died of Covid-19 to date. These risks are important to take into account because they are serious factors when it comes to the conduct of the Covid-19 infection.

Bonitas Medical Fund explains why you need to keep your finger on the pulse of your wellness numbers.

Almost 70 per cent of women and 40 per cent of men are overweight or obese.

Your body mass indicator (BMI) calculator checks if you are at a healthy weight. Calculate yours by:

Dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in metres.

Then dividing the answer by your height again to get your BMI.

Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. Blood glucose is your main source of energy and comes from the food you eat. Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, helps glucose from food get into your cells to be used for energy.

Type 1 occurs when the pancreas stops producing insulin. It usually starts very quickly and in younger people. If you have Type 1 diabetes you need insulin injections to survive as well as having a carefully balanced food intake and exercise programme.

Type 2, formerly called adult-onset or non-insulin-dependent diabetes, occurs when the pancreas makes too little insulin or your body cannot use the insulin effectively. It usually develops in adulthood and is often caused by being overweight and not exercising.

Blood pressure is the pressure of blood in your arteries.

The top number is your systolic blood pressure. It is the highest level your blood pressure reaches when your heart beats. The bottom figure is your diastolic blood pressure and is the lowest pressure exerted as your heart relaxes between beats.

What is high blood pressure? High blood pressure is when blood pressure stays elevated over time. Hypertension is often known as the silent killer since nearly 33 per cent of people who have it, do not know it. The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to have yours measured.

Normal: 120/80 to 129/84

Upper end of normal: 130/85 to 139/89

Mild hypertension: 140/90 to 159/99

Moderate hypertension 160/100 to 179/109

Severe hypertension: more than 180/110

If high blood pressure is not treated, it can cause kidney failure, eye problems, heart disease or a stroke.

Lee Callakoppen, principal officer of Bonitas, says: When you consider the number of people in South Africa with high blood pressure and every eight minutes a South African has a heart attack, it makes sense that we have our blood pressure taken regularly.

He urges everybody to be proactive and take control of their health by getting an annual wellness test done.

Knowing your numbers will help you manage your health better and that your lifestyle diseases are under control.

Bonitas has created a Covid-19 hub on its website to help keep South Africans updated on the pandemic. In addition, the fund has taken great strides to ensure their members receive the care and support they need during this time by providing high-risk members with chronic conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension, with hand sanitiser, delivered to their door.

The fund has also established a rapid response unit within their call centre to offer advice and support to members concerned about contracting Covid-19.

The funds virtual care initiative, available on the Bonitas mobile app, allows members and non-members to consult with a GP from their home.

The Covid-19 pandemic has placed the world in a vulnerable position. We are committed to acting in the best interests of our members and are taking key measures to ensure they are supported during this time, said Callakoppen.

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Lifestyle diseases and the coronavirus: what you should know - Kempton Express