About 6 million South Africans have high blood pressure, although many of them don't know it. One of the commonest causes of stroke is high blood pressure (hypertension) a condition, which has no symptoms.

The increasing incidence of high blood pressure, as well as the lack of knowledge amongst South Africans about how to address this very preventable and treatable condition were two reasons why the Soul City Institute for Health and Development Communication chose hypertension as a major theme of its fourth television series, which begins on SABC1 this week. The TV drama, which established itself as a successful vehicle for tackling a variety of development related issues in the first three series, features one of the show's favourite characters suffering a stroke caused by high blood pressure.

High blood pressure, if left untreated, can damage the body over time, leading to strokes, heart disease and kidney failure. However, according to Dr Shereen Usdin, Project Manager of the Soul City series, "The good news is that high blood pressure is easy to detect, by a simple, painless measurement that can be done at any clinic. Once detected it can be treated and serious consequences such as strokes, heart disease and kidney failure can be avoided. A change in lifestyle may be all that is necessary to bring one's blood pressure down. However, some people may also need to take medication."

The Soul City institute has found that as people move into the cities and leave their traditional lifestyles behind them, the change in how they live raises their risk of developing high blood pressure.

They become less physically active; they begin eating refined food which is full of salt and stripped of many of its nutrients; and they face the stresses and strains of life in a town. The end result, for many, is an unhealthy rise in blood pressure. Also, according to Thuli Shongwe, Soul City Researcher: "Our studies have shown one of the biggest barriers in dealing with high blood pressure is the widespread belief that one can feel it. However, as a silent condition, a person remains unaware of the problem, until it causes complications. Our series hopes to alert the public to this fact."

The aim of the Soul City project, which encompasses not only television, but radio dramas in nine languages on nine radio stations, as well as information booklets, is to empower people with information to assist them in making informed choices in their lives. The series aims to inform people about the causes of high blood pressure, how they can find out whether they have high blood pressure, and what to do about it if they do.

The series encourages people to know their blood pressure so that they can treat it if high. High blood pressure can be prevented and treated by cutting down on alcohol, fat and salt in one's diet, as well as by becoming more physically active. Obesity is a major risk factor for high blood pressure and weight loss is key in prevention and treatment.

"This Soul City series encourages people to be aware of what they eat and also to make physical activity a pleasurable and integral part of their lives," says Usdin. "It suggests that people should make simple changes to get more active - like taking the stairs instead of the lift, walking to work, or getting off the taxi a few blocks sooner. Every little bit helps!"

In most people, lifestyle change is all that is necessary to bring the blood pressure down. But others will also need to take medication. This must be taken every day, regardless of whether you feel ill or not. It should only be stopped if advised to do so by a health worker. Soul City is sponsored by Old Mutual, BP, the European Union, the UK Department for International Development, Kagiso Trust, and the Department of Health.

Additional Background Information on Hypertension

Causes of high blood pressure

Certain factors may make a person more susceptible to high blood pressure: