Woman Loses 80kgs in Fight for her Life with BP

By Angela Hanunka

A Livingstone-based mother of four who nearly lost her life to complications associated with high blood pressure has called for increased public awareness on healthy lifestyles and physical activity.

CYNTHIA CHISAKA says healthy lifestyles and physical activity help prevent and manage non-communicable diseases.

Ms. CHISAKA says her health deteriorated in March last year after her blood pressure became difficult to control despite taking medication.

Ms. CHISAKA says she weighed 140 kilograms at the time and had adopted an inactive lifestyle coupled with unhealthy eating habits.

She says her condition only began to improve after health practitioners closely monitored her lifestyle and advised her to make significant changes to her diet and increase physical activity.

Ms. CHISAKA says she has since lost 60 kilograms, reducing her weight from 140 to 80 kilograms through lifestyle changes and regular physical activity.

Ms. CHISAKA says she has also been taken off blood pressure medication under medical supervision, but continues to monitor her blood pressure and attend regular medical reviews.

She has told ZNBC NEWS in an interview that her personal experience has now inspired her to promote awareness of healthy lifestyles and physical activity in communities.

She has appealed to the government and other well-wishers to support her efforts to raise awareness on the prevention and management of non-communicable diseases.

Ms. CHISAKA has further urged people living with high blood pressure and other non-communicable diseases to seek medical attention and follow professional medical advice.