Take it easy this World Heart Day

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According to a survey conducted by heart and stroke treatment provider, Pharma Dynamics, traffic jams, queue jumpers and people who think rules don't apply to them have emerged among the list of 30 things that gets South Africans' blood boiling.

Mariska van Aswegen, spokesperson of Pharma Dynamic said they commissioned the poll as a way to get South Africans to take their heart health more seriously.

"With 6.3 million South Africans living with high blood pressure, South Africa has one of the highest rates of hypertension in the world. Many however remain unaware of their condition because high blood pressure usually has no symptoms. Hypertension is also a precursor and leading cause behind other life-threatening conditions such as stroke and heart disease.

"Stressful situations can cause your blood pressure to spike temporarily, but too much stress could lead to high blood pressure in the long-run. Doing activities that can help you manage your stress and improve your health can make a long-term difference in lowering blood pressure."

South Africa's top 30 annoyances

1. Taxi drivers
   
2. Queue jumpers
   
3. People who think rules don't apply to them
   
4. Bad manners
   
5. Load-shedding
   
6. Rudeness in general
   
7. Having to go through lots of automated phone options and then being kept on hold
   
8. Traffic jams
   
9. Smoking around children
   
10. Spitting in public
    
11. Motorists and/or cyclists who jump red traffic lights
    
12. Anti-social behaviour eg when someone pays more attention to their electronic device(s) than to you
    
13. Backstabbers
    
14. Using cellphones while driving
    
15. People eating loudly and sloppily
    
16. Petrol price increases
    
17. Laziness
    
18. People who swear all the time
    
19. People who can't spell or use correct grammar
    
20. Paying a fee for withdrawing money from an ATM
    
21. Pop-up adverts on the internet
    
22. Paying tax
    
23. Office suck-ups
    
24. Paying for parking when you only intend to pop in to the shops quickly
    
25. Drivers speeding through housing estates
    
26. Your neighbour mowing the lawn or drilling at 7am on the weekend
    
27. Drivers ignoring zebra crossings
    
28. Tardiness
    
29. Tissues in the washing machine
    
30. Busses or trains being cancelled
    

"Try to take short breaks during times of the day that tend to be very stressful, identify what specifically makes you angry and think of possible solutions, humour can also help to diffuse tension, practice relaxation skills especially when your temper flares and exercise too is a great way to help reduce stress and feelings of frustration," continues van Aswegen.

"Statistics show that about 130 heart attacks and 240 strokes occur daily in South Africa, which means that 10 people will suffer a stroke and five will have a heart attack every hour. We would like to call on all South Africans to have their blood pressure tested at least annually."

Have your blood pressure tested free by the Heart and Stroke Foundation this month to know your heart age. For scheduled screenings in your area, visit www.pharmadynamics.co.za. For more information about how to prevent or manage hypertension, go to www.ichange4health.co.za or www.facebook.com/iChange4Health.