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  • Sanofi, Catholic Church partner on diabetes, hypertension management

    Sanofi and Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos are partnering to reduce the rate of diabetes and hypertension in Ijede community, an Ikorodu, Lagos State suburb.

    The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two organisations marked the take-off of a state-of-the-art Diabetes and Hypertension Clinic at St. Raphael Divine Mercy Specialist Hospital, Ijede.

    The clinic, supported by Sanofi, is will provide quality health care for diabetes and hypertension patients.

    The company’s General Manager, Folake Odediran, expressed delight at the clinic.

    She described diabetes and hypertension as major public health concerns, which cause economic burdens for governments, patients and care-givers.

    She, however, noted that access to quality care at the primary care level remained a critical gap in the drive to universal health coverage.

    She said under the DHC initiative, Sanofi would bridge the gap through public-private partnerships to establish centres of excellence for diabetes and hypertension management.

    As parts of its objectives,  DHC would empower the  people and patients with  information and equip healthcare experts with skills to manage the diseases.

    Odediran said: “I want to note that this is the first DHC established under this initiative. In setting up this Centre of Excellence, Sanofi has supported the re-training of 40 healthcare practitioners of this hospital, including doctors, pharmacists, nurses, ophthalmologists and laboratory scientists. We are optimistic that this will enable them to deliver good quality of care to their patients.

    “We are pleased to collaborate with the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos for the implementation of the pilot DHC Project at St Raphael’s Divine Mercy Specialists Hospitals, Ijede. This institution meets all eligibility criteria as a centre of excellence in diabetes and hypertension care.”

    The Medical Director, Sanofi-Aventis Nigeria Limited, Dr. Philip Ikeme, noted that the DHC initiative was aimed at reducing the rate of diabetes and hypertension.

    Describing the two conditions as silent killers, Ikeme said many people were not aware that they had the diseases. As a result, they reported late to hospitals.

    He said the initiative would help address the gap at all levels of care, adding that the project has been designed to build capacity and empower health workers.

    According to him, in addition to managing the two conditions, the company would train health workers.

    The Chaplain, Divine Mercy Catholic Chaplaincy, Ikorodu, Rev Father Joe Ben Onyia, described the DHC as an access-to-healthcare initiative and has the approval of the Archbishop and Board Chairman, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins, to be implemented in the hospital.

    “As these diseases are among the chief causes of mortality in Nigeria and our Ikorodu environs, it goes to show why we are so happy that with this clinic being inaugurated today, so many lives will be saved,” he said.

    The Vicar-General and Vice Chairman of the Board, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, the Rt. Rev. Monsignor John Aniagwu, who led delegation from the archdiocese,  noted that diabetes and hypertension are silent killers, which deserve collaboration between the government and  stakeholders.

    He thanked Sanofi for the initiative and pledged that the hospital would implement the project in line with the high standards associated with the Catholic’s health facilities.

    “We recognise that there are other facilities in the country but you chose this one. We will not let you down. You will be happy and proud that you chose to work with us,” Monsignor Aniagwu assured the Sanofi officials.

    The clinic was opened by Monsignor Aniagwu. Others at event were the Health Coordinator, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Rev Sister Theresa Afareha and  Director of Administration of the hospital, Rev Sister Hyacentha Ihedike.

     

  • FG to carry out survey on diabetes, hypertension incident – Minister

    ….Says PHCs will soon commence screening, treatment

     

    The Federal Government has planned to carry out a survey on diabetes and hypertension, the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole has announced.

    The survey, which Adewole said will be carried out this year, is to help determine the number of people affected with such diseases.

    Read AlsoHypertension killing more people than any other condition – Prof. Omotoso

    Besides, the minister also announced that Primary Health Centres (PHCs) will soon be conducting screening and treatment of patients of such diseases.

    In a statement signed by Boade Akinola (Mrs.) Director, Media and Public Relations the minister noted that it was important to know the number of people with the problems so as to provide healthcare for them.

    He was quoted to have spoken in Abuja, while declaring open, 4th Pan- African Diabetic Foot Study Group Conference and the Advance Course on Diabetic Foot/ Podiatry organized by the Pan-African Diabetic Foot Study Group in collaboration with World Diabetes Foundation and Mark Anumah Medical Mission.

    He said, “We want to know how many people have the problem so that government can provide care for them appropriately.

    “We will go beyond screening of diabetes at the teaching hospitals but we want to mainstream it in our primary healthcare centers”.

    “As we are implementing the basic healthcare provision funds in PHC in this year’s budget, we want to offer care to Nigerians in the Primary healthcare level, where the large number of population received medical care”, Adewole said.

    The Minister said that situation where everyone goes to teaching hospitals would not help the Nigerian health system.

    In his remarks, chairman of the occasion, Prof. Oladipo Ladipo, President, Association of Reproductive Health said that Nigeria had the largest population in Africa and indirectly has the large number of diabetic patients in Sub-Sahara Africa.

    He said Nigerian Doctors, Nurses, Orthopedic Surgeon must work together to ensure the diabetic foot was reduced to the barest minimum.

    Prof. Ladipo said that more than 120 delegates converged from various parts of Africa to discuss way forward on diabetic foot /podiatry. He emphasized that Nigeria must develop another way to manage non- communicable diseases.

    In her presentation, the Chairperson, Local Organizing Committee, Prof. Felicia Anumah of University of Abuja Teaching Hospital said that diabetic had become pandemic and would lead to increase of diabetic foot.

    She said the disease is silent until it sets up complications, is has high economic cost and difficult to manage when the case is presented lately.

    “50 percent of the patients present their cases when the only option is amputation” She said.

    She called on general public to always visit healthcare providers for checkup if there is any pain in the feet.

     

     

  • Hypertension: The silent killer (1)

    In my youth, living in the midst of my family in those days, frightening stories of a mysterious and unseen killer used to be told. It often goes thus: a supposedly healthy individual, be it female or male, had in a typical night retired to bed.

    Prior to going to sleep, he or she may have had an altercation with a neighbour. In the alternative, he or she may be perfectly well and just returned from the farm or local market, had a meal with the rest of the household and, thereafter, retired to sleep. However, in the middle of the tranquil night, the person having a supposed rest with his or her family began to struggle for survival. In the course of the raging battle, he or she may have shouted for help as being attacked by a mysterious and unseen intruder. He or she may also be gasping for breath because she feels suffocated and in the grip of death. On waking, the apparently healthy person that went to bed last night had by this morning become paralysed on one side of his or her body. If the person who suffered the paralysis is alive, he or she is lucky.

    On the extreme, he may not actually be alive to tell the event that happened at night. Such story, the victim might say, is that he saw a body coming through the window usually, delusional, at night and that on upon entry, began to press him down the bed and suffocating him or her.

    In the local folklore, the paralysis is often attributed to a supernatural and cryptic attacker called “oro” or pronounced as word in Yoruba Language. Further, the attack may wrongly be blamed on the neighbour who had previously had an argument with the victim. The neighbour acting on malice is believed to have transformed to or have sent a third party called “oro” to attack the victim.  The tale that I have narrated above is rampant in many Nigerian and African cultures albeit in different versions and nomenclature.

    However, unknown to the people who believe in the folktales that I told above, the tragedy that befalls the individuals that I have illustrated, causing sudden death or stroke with paralysis have its foundation in high blood pressure or in medical terms Hypertension (that is, a tension of the blood flow through the body that is high (Hyper). Again, the stroke and paralysis that occurred at the time of the alleged malicious attack are due to high blood pressure disease.

    Therefore, in the coming weeks, I will be dealing with the scourge of a disease that is popularly called the silent killer— a rampant and ferocious attacker: a ubiquitous and serpentine enemy lurking in our midst.

    What is Hypertension? Let us borrow a leaf from the World Health Organisation (WHO) to help us with the definition.  “Hypertension, also known as high or raised blood pressure, is a condition in which the blood vessels have persistently raised pressure. Blood is carried from the heart to all parts of the body in the vessels. Each time the heart beats, it pumps blood into the vessels. Blood pressure is created by the force of blood pushing against the walls of blood vessels (arteries) as it is pumped by the heart. The higher the pressure the harder the heart has to pump.”

    To a lot of my clients, they will often ask me, what does the upper and lower readings of blood pressure mean? According to WHO, “normal adult blood pressure is defined as a blood pressure of 120 mm Hg when the heart beats (systolic) and a blood pressure of 80 mm Hg when the heart relaxes (diastolic). When systolic blood pressure is equal to or above 140 mm Hg and/or a diastolic blood pressure equal to or above 90 mm Hg the blood pressure is considered to be raised or high.”

    If we are to write the first set of figures as the reading for an individual, it will be written thus: 120/80mmHg. The upper one is systolic and the lower one is the diastolic blood pressure readings.

    Some factors that affect blood pressure readings (not the cause of high blood pressure which I shall deal with later on): Age is a crucial factor in the readings of blood pressure.

    Normally, except there is some interventions, the more an individual ages, then the more the progressive hardening of the blood vessels and hence the higher the blood pressure. A child’s blood pressure is rarely measured clinically except there is a good clinical reason to do so. A person who is 20-30 year old and weighing normally, should have a reading in or around 120/80mmHg.

    A person who is 60 and above may have a blood pressure reading of say 150-160/85 without much concern. The circumstance where and when the blood pressure is measured is of paramount importance. Someone who had just failed an examination or heard of the demise of a relative might have his or her blood pressure raised. various social and geographical locations may also affect blood pressure readings.

  • Hypertension killing more people than any other condition – Prof. Omotoso

    Ahead of World Hypertension Day 2018, distinguished Consultant Cardiologist, Professor Ayodele Omotoso, has alerted on the increasing prevalence of hypertension (high blood pressure) in the country, warning that hypertension is now the number-one risk factor for death globally.

    Speaking at the 4th Novartis International Cardiovascular Summit held recently in Lagos at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, Prof. Omotoso alerted that hypertension is now ahead of tobacco, high cholesterol, unhealthy weight, unsafe sex and other conditions as a risk factor for global mortality, adding that recent research has shown the disease is now a leading risk factor for poor health.

    While also noting that hypertension is on the rise in both rural and urban areas of Nigeria among men and women, Prof. Omotoso said current treatment guidelines for the condition have now identified combination therapy as a requirement for majority of patients to reach the appropriate blood pressure goal.

    He disclosed further that, according to the guidelines, mono-therapy only allows a limited number of hypertension patients to achieve set targets of blood pressure, adding that in the majority of patients, the use of more than one drug agent is necessary to achieve results.

    Prof. Omotosho stated further that while hypertension has continued to be a major public health problem whose prevalence is increasing worldwide, the treatment of the condition has been a major medical success of the past half-century.

    He however identified financial constraints, doubts over treatment benefits, unique patient characteristics, unwelcome side-effects or drug tolerability issues, need for more than one agent or complex treatment regimes, as well as a lack of understanding of instructions provided by physicians, as reasons for non-compliance of hypertension patients to treatment.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Proven Natural Remedy To Blood Pressure With No Side Effect

    Proven Natural Remedy To Blood Pressure With No Side Effect

    If you have Hypotension or Hypertension, what I’m about to share with you in this post could prevent you from having a premature heart attack, save your eyesight, kidneys, legs, nerves and even save your life. Reports show that 70 percent of people have one of these problems.  Therefore, take your time to go through the information provided here. For more detailed information about proven solution to these problems CLICK HERE

    Blood pressure ( BP ) is the pressure of circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels. Used without further specification, “blood pressure” usually refers to the pressure in large arteries of the systemic circulation. Blood pressure is usually expressed in terms of the systolic pressure (maximum during one heart beat) over diastolic pressure (minimum in between two heart beats) and is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg), above the surrounding atmospheric pressure (considered to be zero for convenience

    Blood pressure that is low due to a disease state is called hypotension, and pressure that is consistently high is hypertension. Both have many causes and may be of sudden onset or of long duration. Long term hypertension is a risk factor for many diseases, including heart disease, stroke and kidney failure. Long term hypertension is more common than long term hypotension. Long term hypertension often goes undetected because of infrequent monitoring and the absence

    Blood pressure that is too low is known as hypotension. This is a medical concern if it causes signs or symptoms, such as dizziness, fainting, or in extreme cases, shock.

    When arterial pressure and blood flow decrease beyond a certain point, the perfusion of the brain becomes critically decreased (i.e., the blood supply is not sufficient), causing lightheadedness, dizziness, weakness or fainting. Sometimes the arterial pressure drops significantly when a patient stands up from sitting. This is known as orthostatic hypotension (postural hypotension); gravity reduces the rate of blood return from the body veins below the heart back to the heart, thus reducing stroke volume and cardiac output

    Higher pressures increase heart workload and progression of unhealthy tissue growth (atheroma) that develops within the walls of arteries. The higher the pressure, the more stress that is present and the more atheroma tend to progress and the heart muscle tends to thicken, enlarge and become weaker over time. Persistent hypertension is one of the risk factors for strokes, heart attacks, heart failure and arterial aneurysms, and is the leading cause of chronic kidney failure. Even moderate elevation of arterial pressure leads to shortened life expectancy. At severely high pressures, mean arterial pressures 50% or more above average, a person can expect to live no more than a few years unless appropriately treated.

    Researchers have presented us with proven natural solution to these life threaten problems. That solution can be find HERE.

    CLICK HERE Now to gain full access to the solution that has saved millions of life and to get rid of hypertension and hypotension naturally kindly click on this WEBSITE.

  • How fats, carbohydrates cause hypertension, by LASUTH don

    How fats, carbohydrates cause hypertension, by LASUTH don

    The disorders of lipid and carbohydrate metabolisms result in diseases such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, obesity, stroke and diabetic mellitus, a professor of Chemical Pathology and Head of Chemical Pathology at the Lagos State University College of Medicine, Prof Oluwole Olanrewaju Adedeji.

    Professor Adedeji made the remark during the 66th edition of LASU inaugural lecture series titled: ‘Body Fuels in Health and Diseases’.

    The lecture, which was held at the Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos, attracted guests from the academia, medical field, among others.

    Delivering the lecture, Professor Adedeji said: “Lipids (fats) and carbohydrates (sugars) are the major sources of energy by the body for daily activities and wellbeing.  Alterations in metabolisms (handling of the body) of these fuels can portend severe health conditions with adverse economic consequences.

    “We investigated the associations between abnormal lipid metabolism (resulting in dyslipidaemia) and the development of diseases, such as hypertension, obesity, diabetes mellitus, infertility and foetal growth in pregnancy.

    “Lipid deposition in the arterial walls, due to its increased level in blood, produces lesion (atheroma) which causes damage and reduction of the lumen (or inner diameter). This reduces blood flow.  Resulting increase in peripheral resistance to blood flow leads to the development of hypertension.”

    He  added: “In our publication (Adedeji, O.O  and Onitiri, A.C, 1990) (1), we showed that the mean lipid levels of Nigerian hypertensive patients were significantly higher than those of healthy individuals. This result suggests a casual relationship between high lipid level and hypertension.  We reported also that the lipoprotein remnant, derived from triglyceride rich in lipoproteins, plays a role in the development of atheroma which results in hypertension. Therefore, we advised that triglyceride measurement might be a better discriminant of hypertension than cholesterol.”

    In his recommendation, Professor Adedeji said; “There is need for government policy and population health intervention targeting reduction of unhealthy lifetsyles, including lack of exercise.

    “There should be state sponsored wide range media publicity of the dangers of hypertension, coronary heart diseases, obesity and diabetes mellitus.

    “Regular laboratory check-ups of health parameters by individuals should be encouraged to prevent diseases or allow timely intervention that could ameliorate or cure of disease conditions.

  • Stupidity may be another word for hypertension: it also kills!

    I came across a publication this week that made interesting reading. It coincided with a season of defences and denials, with people taking positions either aimed at deflecting flaks away from their principals or defending the indefensible or mis-reading or misunderstanding or mis-reading other people’s motives.

    In most of these cases, downright imbecility is it. In a few, deliberate mischief at re-inventing events or obfuscating issues is at the core of their behaviour. But however, you look at all of these, they mostly worsen the woes of those they set out to defend or protect, to be fair, without realising it.

    When you hear some people complain to you that they are fatigued, knackered or completely stressed out,  their undoing is not about pneumonia, toothache or such sundry ailments; it is about a self-inflicted judgemental indiscretion which is now identified as a major threat to people’s health.

    Some people, whether in workplaces or in politics, prefer to surround themselves with imbeciles, (to solid, well-baked morally upright and devoted individuals), who are too willing to play lackeys but sooner or later, the realisation dawns that these imbeciles are liabilities than assets; who betray without batting an eyelid, commit unforgivable perfidies and blunders that hasten their benefactors degeneration to human vegetables or, even their untimely deaths.

    If anyone doubts the veracity of this assertion, that person is either unaware of goings-on in certain places or has not heard about the outcome of a recent research carried out in a society where betrayal or perfidy is not as bad as in this clime.

    The research, by some researchers at the Swedish Lindbergh University Medical Centre, has revealed that dealing with stupid people who by their actions qualify to be regarded as imbeciles, can be as death-inducing as high blood pressure, hypertension and diabetes.

    Two of the results of their research highlight the point that “very many people have poor coping skills when it comes to stupidity – they feel there’s nothing they can do about it, so they internalise their frustration until they finally explode and die”.

    One example was a woman who had to be rushed to the hospital after her stupid assistant shredded important tax documents instead of copying them; the other was the case of “a man who spent a whole week rebuilding clients records because his female clerk put them all in the recycle bin of her computer and then emptied it – she thought it meant the records would be recycled and used again.”

    If these occurred in far-away Sweden, there are one or two examples of idiocy or stupidity or imbecility at home one can refer to, to know what heartaches this death-inducing flaw can cause to the not-too-strong-hearted.

    Four years ago, I hired a driver who was to prepare my vehicle for a trip to Ibadan from Lagos. It was elementary to expect that he would fill up the radiator with a bucketful or more of water. But he had a different idea, no thanks to his idiocy. He took a sachet of water, drank from it and emptied whatever was left into the radiator, in the stupid belief that that quantity was enough for that vehicle to run on; but what eventually happened? At a point before the Ogere tollgate, the temperature gauge of the car had gone to its limit to indicate that the gasket of the Honda Accord had got burnt. It cost some dough to fix the car and resume the journey.

    There is another case of a supposedly intelligent fellow somewhere in the city who believed his dim-witted errand-boy on anything he was told, hook, line and sinker; and before it dawned on him that the idiocy of the aide he so much believed and trusted was rubbing off so badly on his public goodwill and self-worth, the horse has bolted from the stable, as it were.

    Bottom line: It is not just the hypertension or diabetes alone that may be ravaging your body, the stupidity of your workers can also kill.

  • Research: Adherence to prescription can alter hypertension

    Research: Adherence to prescription can alter hypertension

    Experts in public health have demonstrated that pharmacy-based treatment of hypertension is possible. The Centre for Epidemiology and Health Development (CEHD), Lagos in collaboration with the Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development and Omron Healthcare (OMC) have proved this.

    It was at a day conference in Lagos, where findings from a study on the feasibility of pharmacy-based treatment of hypertension, carried out in urban Lagos, were presented. The research became necessary because of the need to find ways of improving access to diagnosis and treatment of hypertension.

    According to the conference convener, Prof Akin Osibogun of CEHD, who is also a consultant epidemiologist  at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), hypertension, is prevalent among Nigerians from 18 years and above. “Unfortunately, several studies from Nigeria have also documented a high percentage of people with elevated blood pressure not being aware of their status. Furthermore, a large percentage of those who are aware of their hypertensive status are not following a consistent treatment plan due to challenges in access to treatment,” he explained.

    Prof Osibogun said: “Elevated and uncontrolled blood pressure is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease, heart attack and stroke in Nigeria. It is often referred to as the silent killer because many of its victims might not have had their blood pressure checked or known their status. Hopefully, a community based strategy that facilitates access to diagnosis and regular monitoring in collaboration with cardiologists for possible referral, will contribute to the control of this looming epidemic.”

    Prof Osibogun gave the details: “The prevalence of raised blood pressure is highest in Africa where, in 2008 it was 46 per cent, and lowest in the Americas at 35 per cent for both sexes. In Nigeria, a survey on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in 1992 reported a prevalence of about 10 percent for elevated blood pressure among Nigerians aged between 18 and 65 years.

    In 2003, a survey carried out under the auspices of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Nigerian Heart Foundation reported a prevalence of 28 per cent. The currently reported prevalence of Hypertension in Nigeria in various studies is approximately 30 to 35 per cent. Hypertension is, therefore, a looming epidemic in Nigeria. Age, gender, family history, and ethnicity are non-modifiable risk factors, while modifiable risk factors for hypertension are alcohol use, cigarette smoking, diabetes mellitus, elevated serum lipids, excessive dietary sodium, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, socio-economic status and stress.”

    He said the study being reported has been an effort at searching for a way to improve access to diagnosis and treatment.

    A cardiologist, Dr. Olusegun A. Joseph, described hypertension as elevated blood pressure. “It is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular disease and the leading cause of mortality globally. It could be caused by saturated fat, which causes oxidative stress and could come with non serious symptoms like headache, feeling unwell, insomnia (inability to sleep). People who are not careful might just be treating typhoid and malaria, without knowing it is something more dangerous,” said Dr Joseph.

    On how one should check his blood pressure, Dr Joseph, who works at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), said:  “When anyone gets into a health facility, he/she should do himself/herself a favour of checking his/her blood pressure. All Nigerians from ages 18 to 20 should check their blood pressure often, especially if there is a family history. When one’s BP is above 140/90, he should worry. If it becomes frequent like 140/90, 140/80, 150/80, it is hypertension.”

    Dr. Anja van’t Hoog of the Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development (AIGHD) gave an overview of the Omron Medical Connect (OMC) Pilot Project and the Evaluation Study. According to her, patients were recruited through community screening at the five participating pharmacies and through LUTH.

    Dr van’t Hoog said patients were assessed by a medical doctor, who prescribed or adjusted anti-hypertensive medication if needed. Thereafter, patients continued their care at the five participating pharmacies. The pharmacists uploaded information in the OMC application (in a tablet device). A cardiologist reviewed the patient information from a distance, added his medical advice, and prescribed medications. Patients were informed to come to the pharmacy again to pick their prescribed medications, and for continuous monitoring of blood pressure and life style advice.

    Dr. Van’t Hoog also introduced the Evaluation Study, which was conducted by an independent team of researchers from AIGHD and CEHD. “The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of providing hypertension care through community-based pharmacies, including e-monitoring of patients, in an urban setting in Nigeria. The study followed patients in the pilot programme for six months, and employed both quantitative and qualitative research methods. The enrolled patients age, sex and hypertension treatment status at enrollment are available,” she added.

    Ms. Heleen Nelissen of AIGHD said with results mostly obtained by quantitative analyses of the study data, indeed, adherence to prescriptions can alter hypertension.

    “The feasibility of OMRON Medical connect pharmacy-based hypertension care in terms of screening and recruitment, and the number needed to screen to get one patient in the OMRON Medical Connect programme.

    “Pharmacy visits and retention in-care as recorded in the OMC app and as reported by patients during the end line interviews; patterns in medication prescription, drug pick-ups, and medication adherence as reported by patients themselves, and how this changed during the programme for patients, who were already on anti-hypertensive medications, are all documented with positive results that pharmacy-based treatment of hypertension is possible. Impressive changes in blood pressure between baseline and end line and quality of care parameters are all captured.”

    Dr. Okwor Tochi of CHED said that despite many challenges, the programme had helped patients in reducing blood pressure. She explained how various challenges with recruitment, use of the OMC App, retention in care, medication adherence, and financial challenges could be overcome for future directions for the program based on the results of the pilot and evaluation study.

    CEHD member of staff and research fellow, Dr. Abiola Alege, said pharmacy has a huge role to play in the success story of any Pharmacy-Based treatment of hypertension. “According to some patients, pharmacists are more accessible and there is an already existing relationship with them. They save a lot of time for patients and serve as an alternative hospital. Also, people should use pharmacies more often because it could be a way of managing financial constraint,”he said.

    However, she had explained that some people do not adhere to hypertension treatment because they believed they were feeling healthy. “Some were tired of drugs, others had side effects of taking drugs and for some, because of their financial status, they couldn’t sustain their purchase. Some pharmacists have also complained that after giving some of their patients what is described as ‘drug holidays’, there are those who declined to turn up for their drugs, believing that they are cured.”

    Prof Jane Ajuluchukwu, who chaired the conference said people are not aware of how fast hypertension kills and this is a big problem. “Globally, hypertension kills nine million people, a statistic less than the mortality rate of malaria. It is advised that the average Nigerian check his blood pressure often for early detection sake,” she added.

  • 30m suffer hypertension, says cardiologist

    •As Lions Club marks 20th Anniversary

    A cardiologist with the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Dr. Ehimare Iyayi, has said no fewer than 30 million Nigerians have hypertension.

    He spoke at the Lions Diamond Club’s 20th Anniversary held at the club’s secretariat, Ilupeju, Lagos.

    “Over 30million Nigerians are hypertensive. To live a healthy life, we need to pay attention to our heart. The heart is about the size of a fist. The heart pump blood to other parts of the body and problems that can affect heart can occur from birth. The common one is a hole in the heart, “he said.

    To prevent heart failures, Iyayi advocated regular medical check-up, exercises, low salt intake, moderation in alcohol consumption, and avoid cold drinks.

    The club’s President, Mrs. Olatundun Omoshaye, said since she came on board, the club has donated several materials to the needy. “I have spent one year of successful leadership with numerous awards.  I am in my second year of presidency and they made me a zonal chair for Zone B at district level. We were able to get three new members last year and we have two this year and three more are coming. The whole thing is service and we were even at Surulere where we did something for Pacelli Home for the Blind.

    This year, we have done two projects already. We did youths’ empowerment. At the end of August, we visited orphanage where we gave them food supplies worth over N100, 000. Our next activity is feeding the poor.

    ‘’I joined Lions in 2013. I was supposed to have joined long ago, but I was not interested then. It is good to serve people and God will be blessing you when you do. I want more people who want to usetheir talents to service people to join us,” she added.

  • Cardiologist raises the alarm on hypertension in youths

    The Chief Medical Director of the Lagos Executive Cardiovascular Clinic (LECC), Dr. Folasade Alli, has raised the alarm over the rate at which Nigerians are dropping dead in their prime as a result of heart-related problems.

    Dr. Alli disclosed that the problem is rampant among the youths in their 30s.

    “Unfortunately, there have been instances of young Nigerians dying with heart-related diseases, and number one cause on the list is the silent killer, hypertension. High blood pressure is not only on the increase, but has also gotten to an epidemic level. In my earlier years of practice, it (hypertension) was mostly an issue of the mature and old folk starting from 40, but today, this epidemic has shifted backward by, at least, a decade. Several younger Nigerians are dying today of the same problem. The first issue with the younger generation is the false and unwise belief that they are young, and thus, do not need to regularly check themselves; then the second issue is the fact that they are not taking preventive measures and, of course, the lack of public information on what these measures plays a major role. When told their blood pressure is high, some reply ‘I reject it’, but guess what? It is indeed high – there is nothing to reject because it is happening. The bottom line is that, this attitude needs to change”.

    The 53-year-old cardiologist added: “In those days, we used to have a definition of 40 but now we see 28 to 35 year old patients. We need to be our brothers’ keeper, we need to protect one another, and protect parents from unnecessary heartaches. My advice to the youth and young adults around their latter 20s and 30s is to engage with the literature on the cardiovascular epidemic sweeping across our country, maintain a relationship with a cardiologist, and develop healthy attitudes that can help combat hypertension. What you eat and drink matters. Adopt a healthy diet and reduce salt content in your food. Increase physical activity and maintain a healthy weight. Quit smoking and maintain a healthy attitude towards alcohol intake or simply avoid drinking alcohol altogether. Your stress level matters a lot too – for example, think about the health implication before you take a serious business decision – don’t attempt to whack a round brick into a triangular hole, it will stress you out! Also, we need to rid ourselves of nonchalant attitude towards our health. Together, we can avoid premature deaths.

    “Take food for instance. We have good fat and bad ones and these bad ones are the ones that stick to the walls of blood vessels. They thicken the blood vessels thereby causing the heart to pump harder. In simpler words, the buildup of junk in our blood vessels causes the heart to work harder than it ought to, and remember that already, the heart is the hardest working organ in the body.

    The blood vessels are very pliable but when you have bad fat that have settled on the wall of the vessels the vessel becomes thick, it hardens up. So when the heart pumps, it is pumping against a high resistance; so all these things contribute to rising blood pressure.”