High blood pressure has no symptoms. Neither does high cholesterol. The first sign for far too many people in our community is the heart attack itself, and by then, the damage is done. It doesn’t have to go that way. A single consultation tells you where you stand.
Call 10177 or 1011 immediately, then come to our Emergency Room, if you have:
- Crushing chest pain or pressure, especially spreading to the arm, neck or jaw
- Sudden breathlessness, cold sweats, nausea with chest discomfort
- Fainting, or a racing heart that won’t settle
Don’t drive yourself. Don’t wait to see if it passes. Emergency Room, open 24 hours: 012 798 7076
Who we help
- Anyone over 35 who hasn’t had their blood pressure checked in the past year
- People living with high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol
- Anyone with a family history of heart attack or stroke
- People with breathlessness on exertion, ankle swelling, palpitations or chest tightness
- Patients recovering from a heart attack who need ongoing management
What to expect
Nothing complicated, and nothing that takes all day.
- The consultation. A specialist physician takes your history and examines you properly.
- The tests. Blood pressure, ECG, blood work for cholesterol and blood sugar, and imaging where it’s needed, all on site.
- The results conversation. Explained in plain language, in your language.
- The plan. Medication where it’s needed, lifestyle guidance that fits a real budget and a real household, and a follow-up date.
Cost and medical aid
All major medical aid schemes, including GEMS. We handle pre-authorisation. Paying cash? Ask about our fixed private fees before you commit, you’ll know the price upfront.
Your specialists
Our specialist physicians consult on site. You can see who is practising at Botshilu, their qualifications and their consulting days in our hospital directory.
Questions people actually ask
Do you have a cardiologist?
No, and we’d rather tell you plainly. Our specialist physicians diagnose and manage heart conditions, including high blood pressure, heart failure, rhythm problems and post-heart-attack care. Where a procedure such as an angiogram or stent is needed, we arrange the referral. Most heart care is medical management, and that happens here.
Do I need a referral from my GP?
No. You can book a specialist physician consultation directly.
Is chest pain always a heart attack?
No. It can be muscular, digestive or anxiety-related. But chest pain is not something to diagnose yourself. If it’s severe, sudden, or comes with breathlessness or sweating, treat it as an emergency.
I feel fine. Why would I get checked?
Because high blood pressure and high cholesterol have no symptoms at all until they cause damage. Feeling fine is not evidence of a healthy heart.
What will it cost me?
It depends on the tests you need. Ask for the fixed private fee when you book, and you’ll have the figure before you arrive.
I don’t have transport. Is this a whole-day thing?
No. Consultation, ECG and bloods are typically done in one visit, on one site. That’s the point of having this hospital in Soshanguve.
Related departments
Book your heart check, 012 798 7000