It is no secret that the Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART) at the North-West University (NWU) is at the forefront of in-depth research. Over the past year they have demonstrated yet again that their mission is to conduct research that could solve many health-related problems that affect young and old.  

Recently, HART researchers took part in a programme, #theArtofResearch, as an initiative to activate African knowledge. The researchers showcased their research by means of posters to make African science more accessible to our communities.

HART’s Dr Adriaan Jacobs, Dr Michél Stauss-Kruger, Prof Shani le Roux and Dr Yolandi Breet rose to the occasion.

Dr Adriaan Jacobs is a lecturer in Physiology and a member of HART. His research focus is on cardiovascular diseases. His research investigated a protein that is known to prevent the breakdown of blood clots.

“The number of people in South Africa who live with high blood pressure, or hypertension, is alarmingly high. Most of us know someone who has been affected by its devastating consequences, including heart attacks and strokes. It is well known that hypertension develops from multiple factors, and the more we learn about the underlying mechanisms that lead to high blood pressure, the more we can intervene in an attempt to prevent it,” he says.

The protein, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is known for its traditional role in preventing the breakdown of blood clots. “Our research highlighted an alternative role in which high levels of PAI-1 may potentially contribute towards the development of hypertension,” says Dr Jacobs.

“Since PAI-1 levels are known to be increased by modifiable factors such as obesity, smoking and alcohol use, lifestyle changes such as weight loss and cessation of smoking and alcohol use may decrease PAI-1 production and hence also limit hypertension development via this potential mechanism.”

Dr Michél Strauss-Kruger is a postdoctoral fellow specialising in lifestyle and cardiovascular disease. “Young South Africans are always willing to fight for change when it comes to larger causes such as improvement of the healthcare, economic, housing and education systems. Yet we easily neglect our own health and well-being, not realising that our personal health can contribute to the large-scale problem.”

She says their research has already shown that in young adults, markers associated with a high salt intake and obesity are linked to stiffer arteries and enlargement of the heart – risk factors of heart disease.

“Small changes such as reducing your salt or sugar intake, eating more fruit and vegetables or exercising more could significantly reduce your risk of developing heart disease,” says Dr Strauss-Kruger.

Prof Shani le Roux is an associate professor researching cardiovascular physiology. Her research involved a new inflammatory marker to identify blood vessel disease risk.

“All South Africans would like to live as happy, healthy individuals, for as long as possible; and we want the same for the people we care about. Compared with other causes of death, stroke and heart disease rates are the highest in South Africa, but still people do not realise until it is too late that they need to make a big effort to stay healthy.”

Substances in the blood called inflammatory markers help to protect and heal the blood vessels when they get sick. Researchers in Denmark have discovered a specific inflammatory marker called soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor or, in short, suPAR. This marker is released into the blood when the blood vessels start to get sick, and can be used to determine a person’s risk of developing blood vessel disease.

Researchers at the NWU have now discovered that this is also the case in the South African population. “More importantly, we have found that how you live influences suPAR, and therefore the health of your blood vessels. This could lead to higher blood pressure and a higher risk of dying from heart and blood vessel diseases,” says Prof Le Roux.

Dr Yolandi Breet is a senior lecturer specialising in arterial stiffening and how this relates to hypertension. Her research, titled “Active children are healthy children”, looked at how children should be more active at school to prevent diseases such as hypertension.

“Children across the world want to grow up to be healthy adults, have a career and a family and live a long, happy and healthy life. However, many schoolchildren are overweight and inactive, which may increase their risk of early stiffening of blood vessels and cardiovascular disease.”

The group’s research has shown that high blood pressure is already seen in children, and that a healthy diet and exercise are associated with a decrease in blood vessel stiffening and cardiovascular risk.

“We call on the Department of Basic Education and school governing bodies to prioritise exercise in the school curriculum and have healthy food options in tuck shops and school eating halls. With these priorities put into place, children will grow up to be healthy, productive adults contributing to society and promoting these same habits in their own children, building a better, health-conscious future society,” Dr Breet says.

The HART group is actively working on various running projects in conjunction with many collaborators and other research entities. To read more about their research, please visit: https://health-sciences.nwu.ac.za/hart

HART’s Dr Adriaan Jacobs, Dr Michél Strauss-Kruger, Prof Shani le Roux and Dr Yolandi Breet.