Coming face to face with your own fallibility – A Patient's Story

They're the ideal weapons for these silent killers because they catch their victims unawares – for instance, more than half of South Africa's population are estimated to suffer from high blood pressure, but only a quarter to a half of those are aware of it.

Getting tested is simple enough, so why do so many of us avoid it? Perhaps we are too complacent or we're afraid of receiving a life sentence? After all, who wants to join the one in three South African men, or one in four women, who will suffer from a heart condition before the age of 60? The crucial thing to realise is that both cholesterol and blood pressure can be easily controlled, either through lifestyle changes or, if necessary, with an ever-evolving range of medications. So neither condition is a death sentence – that initial diagnosis is simply the nudge you need to take action and get healthy before it's too late.

This was the experience of thirty-five-year-old Johan Greyvenstein, director of a financial services company, who, through a routine check-up, discovered his cholesterol and blood pressure problems.

The discovery was not a pleasant one. “I really got a fright when confronted by my own fallibility. When you're diagnosed with hypertension and high cholesterol, you suddenly become aware that you have a life-threatening condition,” he reflects. Luckily, Greyvenstein was destined to beat these heart risk factors.

The doctor went over Greyvenstein's family history and discovered that both his mother and his grandfather had suffered similar symptoms. Concluding that the conditions were family related, she mentioned the need for lifestyle changes but immediately prescribed medication – genetic risk factors for cardiovascular disease can seldom be fought through lifestyle alone.

For three years, Greyvenstein adhered to a regime of two different medicines, one for blood pressure and one for cholesterol. Sounds simple enough, but sticking to that regimen can be a challenge – even once diagnosed, only 60% of patients take their medication as prescribed, and this can be a major stumbling block on the road to recovery.

Fortunately, Greyvenstein eventually heard that Pfizer was due to release a new drug targeting both high blood pressure and cholesterol in a single tablet. “From the first month it was available – in August 2006, I think it was – I consulted my doctor and was put onto the new duet drug,” reports Greyvenstein. He was thrilled with the results. “I definitely prefer taking one tablet instead of two, and financially it's a lot more cost effective. With the previous medicines I reached the chronic limit on my medical aid four months before the end of the year, whereas with the combination drug I am far under the limit.” Best of all, at his last check-up, Greyvenstein's doctor was pleased to report that his blood pressure and cholesterol are now totally controlled.

But Greyvenstein hasn't allowed the success of his medication to make him apathetic about his health. “After losing family members to terminal disease, I reassessed my health and decided to make some big lifestyle changes,” he adds. “For me it was a real wake up call so I joined the Body for Life programme, started going to gym, went on a diet and quit smoking.” On top of his medication regime, this was great news for Greyvenstein's cardiovascular health – and for many South Africans, without the misfortune of a genetic predisposition, these changes alone would be enough to prevent a heart attack or stroke.

So, take a leaf out of Johan Geyvenstein's book: go for that crucial check-up and start fighting cardiovascular disease now. There is no shortage of lifestyle strategies and medicines that can save your life – so why wait until it's too late?

Pfizer South Africa
85 Bute Lane
Sandton
www.pfizer.com

Enquiries:

Solly Mabotha
011 320 6000
solly.mabotha@pfizer.com