“But I feel fine…” — The silent danger of high blood pressure
In South Africa, 1 in 3 adults lives with high blood pressure (hypertension) — and many don’t even know it. Why? Because it often has no symptoms until something serious happens.
That’s why it’s called the silent killer.
But with the right knowledge and small lifestyle changes, you can manage it — and live well.
What exactly is high blood pressure?
Your blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing against your artery walls. When it’s consistently too high, your heart and blood vessels have to work harder — which puts strain on your system.
Over time, this increases your risk of:
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Kidney damage
- Vision loss
Scary? Yes. Preventable? Also yes.
What’s considered “high”?
Normal: less than 120/80 mmHg
Elevated: 120–129/less than 80
High (Stage 1): 130–139/80–89
High (Stage 2): 140+/90+
Crisis: 180+/120+ — get medical help immediately!
You can only know your numbers by checking — there’s no way to guess based on how you feel.
Common risk factors
- Eating too much salty, fried, or processed food
- Stress (yes, even work, taxis, and Eskom)
- Lack of physical activity
- Being overweight or obese
- Smoking or heavy alcohol use
Family history of hypertension
High blood pressure affects all ages, not just older people. Even people in their 20s and 30s can be at risk.
What are the symptoms?
Often… there are none.
But if symptoms appear, they may include:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Nosebleeds
- Shortness of breath
- Blurry vision
- Chest pain
If you’re experiencing these — get checked immediately.
How to lower and manage blood pressure naturally
🧂 Reduce salt – especially from stock cubes, packet soups, chips, and takeaways
🥦 Eat more fresh food – fruit, veg, whole grains, lean meat
🚶 Move your body – even 20–30 minutes of walking daily helps
🧘♀️ Manage stress – deep breathing, journaling, quiet time
🍷 Cut back on alcohol – aim for moderate or none
🚬 Quit smoking – it doubles your risk of heart problems
How Netclinic can help
At Netclinic, we make managing high blood pressure simple and affordable:
✅ Quick blood pressure screenings
✅ Blood sugar and cholesterol tests
✅ Regular check-ups and follow-ups
✅ Medication advice & scripts
✅ Vitamin injections to support energy and wellness
High blood pressure doesn’t always “feel” dangerous — until it’s too late. But a 5-minute check could save your life.
So even if you feel fine — stop by Netclinic and know your numbers. Prevention is better than cure.
