What's causing sudden deaths of black men in South Africa?

Eddie Zondi.

From Morning Live presenter Vuyo Mbuli, who died at the age of 46, to the recent death of 47-year-old Metro FM host Eddie Zondi, more and more South African black men are succumbing to lifestyle diseases.

According to destinyconnect.com, the recent sudden deaths of four prominent black South African men, all in their forties, has put the spotlight on lifestyle diseases, which have infiltrated black society.

Morning Live presenter Vuyo Mbuli died from a pulmonary embolism, while Metro FM host Eddie Zondi complained of chest pains before his death.

Dr Vash Mungal-Singh, CEO of the South African Heart and Stroke foundation says that 20 years ago the white Afrikaner male was most at risk of heart disease in this country, but that situation has changed dramatically.

Since the transition to democracy, more and more black South Africans have adopted the sedentary Western lifestyle and diet, and are paying a devastating price.

Dr Mungal-Singh adds that it has recently been discovered that the black South African population has a genetic variation that makes it more sensitive to salt, leading to a condition called salt-sensitive hypertension which in turn leads to a greater risk of bleeds in the brain, cardiovascular disease, stroke and high blood pressure.