NAN-HG-10
Heart
By Olasunkanmi Onifade
Abuja, Sept. 29, 2016 (NAN) Dr Biodun Ogungbo, the Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Stroke Reference Group, on Thursday in Abuja cautioned Nigerians against the use of traditional methods in the treatment of heart related illness.
Ogungbo gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the occasion of the “World Heart Day’’ celebrated annually on September 29.
He said that heart failure could be caused by a number of factors ranging from diseases that damage the heart muscles, coronary artery disease, diabetes, and diseases of the heart valves.
The medical expert listed other factors to include heart defects present at birth, high blood pressure, lungs disease and past heart attacks.
According to Ogungbo, the most common is hypertension, as the disease has no symptom and that is why it is called the silent killer.
“Hypertension is a disease that cannot be cured through traditional methods or by only prayers.
“Keep praying but do not stop your medications as hypertension is for life.
“Hypertension is the single most important risk factor for stroke, it causes about 50 per cent of ischemic strokes and also increases the risk of hemorrhagic stroke,’’ he said.
Ogungbo said many hypertensive patients do not have their blood pressures adequately controlled, adding that many preventable strokes, heart attacks and cases of heart failure occurred unnecessarily.
He, however, advised patients to avoid sugar, salt, fatty foods, smoking and alcohol, saying checking ones blood pressure with the machine at home was also recommended.
“One thing to bear in mind is that hypertension is a long term condition and one needs to see a doctor at least twice or more a year for review.
“Non-compliance with anti-hypertensive drug therapy can be dangerous to one’s health.
“There are two major organs that kill instantly, namely brain and the heart, any problem with these two organs can lead to sudden death,’’ Ogungbo said.
NAN also spoke to Dr Safiya Ojo, a General Practitioner at the Wuse General Hospital, who said that untreated hypertension could lead to heart diseases or cardiac arrest.
He said uncontrolled high cholesterol could also lead to heart diseases, adding that diabetic patients were also prone to heart diseases.
Ojo, however, advised that high blood pressure patients should go for medical checkup regularly, especially those with family history of heart related illnesses.
She said children were also prone to heart diseases, adding that some infections if not adequately treated could lead to heart diseases.
“Some children are born with heart pathology; it could be due to the fact that the mother did not take folic acid during pregnancy,’’ she said.
The medical experts advised Nigerians on healthy lifestyle as “prevention is better than cure’’. (NAN)
OEO/HS/EEE
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Edited by Halima Sheji/Ese E. Ekama