South Sudan: "Someone who is mentally unwell is often seen as a drunkard or a useless person. I was sick for nine years, and in that time I destroyed a lot of things... Now I understand how vital mental health is — for me, for my family and for the community."

Most people with high blood pressure don’t feel any symptoms. And if left untreated, it can cause other health conditions like kidney disease, heart disease and stroke. Learn how to prevent, control & treat it bit.ly/4z5Vfsx

Kuri iki Cyumweru, Minisitiri @nsanzimanasabin yitabiriye imyitozo ngarukakwezi ya Karate, yanabereyemo ubukangurambaga bw'urubyiruko bwo kurwanya ibiyobyabwenge #SoberGen. Mu butumwa yatanze, yashimangiye ko siporo ari ubuzima bw'umubiri n'ubwo mu mutwe. Yavuze ko gukora siporo biteza imbere ubuzima muri rusange kuko bikomeza amagufa n'imikanya, bikongera imbaraga z'umubiri ndetse bikagabanya cyane kwiheba n'agahinda gakabije. Yagize ati: 'Siporo yubaka umubiri ikanarinda ubwonko. Yubaka ukwihangana n'ikinyabupfura biba bikenewe kugira ngo bifashe abantu kugabanya inzoga cyangwa kureka burundu inzoga n'ibiyobyabwenge.' Yasoje akangurira urubyiruko n'abakuze kugira siporo umuco, abibutsa ko kugira ubuzima burangwa no gukora siporo bigabanya cyane ibyago byo kurwara no gukenera kujya kwa muganga.

Move for your health. Know your numbers. Take action! 🏃🏾‍♀️ Join Kigali’s special #CarFreeDay tomorrow, Saturday, 10 October 2026, from 7:00 AM–11:00 AM for a morning of physical activity, fitness and healthy living. Visit the Rwanda NCD Alliance white tent for FREE NCD screening: 🩺 Blood pressure 🩸 Blood glucose ⚖️ Body Mass Index (BMI) Get your results and receive one-on-one health counselling from our team to understand your numbers and the next steps for your health. Bring your family and friends—make screening part of your Car Free Day! Let’s move together to #BeatNCDs and #ActOnNCDs for a healthier Rwanda! 🇷🇼

Lowering systolic blood pressure to a target under 120 slowed the growth of small blood vessel damage in the brain, compared with the standard target under 140, in a new analysis of the SPRINT trial. SPRINT randomized adults 50 and older with high blood pressure, and without diabetes or a prior stroke, to one of the two targets. In this brain imaging analysis, 663 participants had usable MRI scans, and 442 had complete scans at the start and again about four years later. The researchers combined three MRI signs of small vessel disease into one score: bright lesions in the white matter around the brain's fluid spaces, extra water in the white matter, and enlarged fluid channels around small vessels deep in the brain. The lower target slowed the growth of that combined score, a moderate effect by standard statistical yardsticks. Put simply, a person picked at random from the lower-target group would show less progression than one from the standard group about 61 times in 100, where a coin toss would be 50. Bigger drops in blood pressure tracked with more protection. When systolic pressure fell by 0 to 10 points (mmHg), damage grew 21% less, measured against the damage each person started with. A fall of 10 to 20 points came with 26% less growth, and 20 points or more with 39% less. Why would blood pressure matter for these vessels? The brain's smallest arteries carry blood deep into the white matter and take steady strain from high pressure. Over years, that strain can stiffen and narrow them, leaving the tissue they feed short of blood. Lowering pressure plausibly eases that strain, although this analysis tracked changes on scans and did not test a mechanism. An earlier SPRINT MRI analysis pointed the same way. It found smaller growth in white-matter lesions on the lower target, but slightly more overall brain shrinkage, and both differences were small. This was a post hoc analysis of brain scans, not a test of dementia or stroke. The comparison by size of blood pressure drop was not randomized, so people who reached bigger drops may differ in other ways. The findings do not cover people with diabetes or a prior stroke. In the main SPRINT trial, the lower target also brought more episodes of low blood pressure, fainting, electrolyte problems and kidney injury. Blood pressure control protects the brain's small vessels as well as the heart. Whether a target under 120 is right for any one person is a decision to make with a clinician

#HealthTips Natural ways to cope with high blood pressure (hypertension) 1️⃣ EAT LESS SALT Too much salt can make your body retain water and raise blood pressure. Reduce added salt when cooking and cut down on processed foods such as instant noodles, canned foods, snacks, sausages and fast foods. 2️⃣ EAT MORE FRESH FOODS Choose more fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains and nuts. Foods rich in potassium, such as bananas, oranges, avocado, spinach, pumpkin leaves, beans and sweet potatoes, can help support healthy blood pressure. 3️⃣ DRINK WATER REGULARLY Staying adequately hydrated supports normal circulation and overall health. Drink clean water regularly throughout the day. 4️⃣ MOVE YOUR BODY DAILY Brisk walking, dancing, cycling and household chores can all count. Aim for about 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on most days. You don't need a gym. 5️⃣ LOSE EXCESS WEIGHT If you are overweight, even modest weight loss can help lower blood pressure and reduce the workload on your heart. 6️⃣ CONTROL STRESS Try slow deep breathing, prayer, meditation, stretching or quiet time. Finding healthy ways to manage stress can support your overall heart health. 7️⃣ SLEEP WELL Poor or insufficient sleep is associated with higher blood pressure. Try to sleep and wake at consistent times and reduce phone use before bedtime. 8️⃣ LIMIT ALCOHOL Too much alcohol can raise blood pressure and harm heart health. If you drink, keep your intake low. 9️⃣ AVOID SMOKING Smoking damages blood vessels and can cause blood pressure to rise. Quitting improves heart health at any age. 🔟 CHECK YOUR BP REGULARLY Many people with high blood pressure feel completely fine. Regular checks can help detect high blood pressure early and monitor whether lifestyle changes are helping. If you have been diagnosed with hypertension, lifestyle changes should complement your prescribed treatment and medical follow-up, not replace them. @Annemwiza @mutesi_lydie