South Africa has one of the highest rates of high blood pressure worldwide, with individuals over the age of 50 having the highest incidence; one in three adults in South Africa suffer from high blood pressure. High blood pressure increases the risk of dying from a stroke by 33%, from congestive heart failure (CHF) by 50% and from renal failure, by 10-15%. Normal blood pressure: Systolic blood pressure (top reading) 91-129 mmHg; diastolic blood pressure (bottom reading) 61-80 mmHg.