Recent research has shown
that cardiovascular disorders have overtaken infectious diseases as
Nigeria’s number one killer...
But experts at Grays Cardiology Centre, in
commemorating this year’s World Heart Day, said prevention, management
and treatment of the disease can greatly reduce mortality rates in the
country. Martins Ifijeh reports
Practise Manager, The Grays Cardiology Centre, Bisola Audifferen
addressing Lagosians during the awareness programme to mark 2017 World
Heart Day in Lagos recently
Decades ago, the most feared killer
health challenge globally was infectious diseases, with millions of
people losing their lives especially in developing and underdeveloped
countries. But not anymore! Cardiovascular diseases are the new
nightmare, spreading subtly but consistently into many homes, leaving
tears, sorrows and deaths across the globe.
Data from the World Health Organisation
(WHO) has consistently shown that cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the
leading cause of death globally. The 2010 WHO Global Status Report on
NCDs shows that in 2008, the four major NCDs; cardiovascular diseases,
diabetes, cancers and chronic respiratory diseases put together killed
36 million (63 per cent) persons out of the 57 million global deaths
recorded. Of these, CVDs rank number one with 17 million deaths (48 per
cent) out of the 36 million NCD deaths.
Cardiovascular diseases were once
previously thought to affect only developed and high income countries,
but many developing, and even third world countries like Nigeria are
beginning to feel the impact of the disease.
In Nigeria, over half a million people
died from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in 2012, and one out of every
five Nigerian adults over the age of 30 will likely die prematurely
from NCDs, including cardiovascular diseases.
Worse still, indices suggest the disease
is substantially on the increase in the country as people continue to
model their lifestyle and habits towards unhealthy living, thereby
becoming more susceptible to the diseases.
Of the several cardiovascular diseases,
experts say hypertension, closely followed by stroke is the most
prevalent CVDs in Nigeria with many of the affected population unaware
they are hypertensive or living with any of the deadly cardiovascular
diseases, as they often do not present symptoms.
Although the current exact prevalence of
hypertension in Nigeria is unknown, estimates from the last national
survey conducted in 1990/92 which was published in 1997 put the
prevalence of hypertension at over 20 per cent, suggesting that one out
of every five Nigerians is hypertensive.
Current hospital record estimates showed
that the prevalence of hypertension is 25 per cent while estimated
mortality from stroke is 40 – 50 per cent within the first three months
of diagnosis. Another hospital-based study showed that 39 per cent of
those who survived stroke after three months died within 12 months and
the remaining one per cent developed severe disability.
It is in tackling these deadly but
silent killer, that experts from Grays Cardiology Centre, Lagos, are
advocating for change in lifestyle, healthy living, regular checkups and
proper management of the heart.
The Medical Director, Grays Cardiology
Centre, Lagos, Dr. Soe Moe Aung, who is also an Associate Professor of
Cardiology, while speaking to THISDAY during the Centre’s awareness
programme to commemorate this year’s World Heart Day, said almost half
of all adult Nigerians have one form of cardiovascular disease or the
other, adding that this calls for awareness creation on prevention,
regular check up and treatment of the rising health challenge.
He said there were two main factors for cardiovascular diseases, which are genetic and lifestyle.
“There is the genetic factor, which no one can do anything about, and there is the lifestyle factors which we can be modified. Overweight, lack of exercise, smoking, excessive intake of alcohol, poor dieting, are part of the risk factors that must be avoided,” he noted.
“There is the genetic factor, which no one can do anything about, and there is the lifestyle factors which we can be modified. Overweight, lack of exercise, smoking, excessive intake of alcohol, poor dieting, are part of the risk factors that must be avoided,” he noted.
On his part, the Clinical Director,
Grays Cardiology Centre, Dr. Okechukwu Usim, said one of the major
problems associated with cardiovascular diseases is that they often do
not present symptoms, except damages have been done to the body organs.
“That is why as we commemorate World
Heart Day, the major thrust of our message is regular screening, because
that is a major key to identifying the issues early, otherwise
correcting them will begin to pose threats.”
Prevention and causes
Usim said ways of preventing cardiovascular diseases include healthy active lifestyle, healthy eating, exercise, and the stoppage of unhealthy habits like smoking and excessive drinking.
“A healthy active lifestyle is the number one key to chasing away cardiovascular problems. Nigerians’ current attitude of sitting for long is not helpful. We should engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week.
Usim said ways of preventing cardiovascular diseases include healthy active lifestyle, healthy eating, exercise, and the stoppage of unhealthy habits like smoking and excessive drinking.
“A healthy active lifestyle is the number one key to chasing away cardiovascular problems. Nigerians’ current attitude of sitting for long is not helpful. We should engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week.
“Secondly, the saying that we are what
we eat is very true. If we eat well, we will be well. If we eat badly,
our health will go badly. The right things to eat are fruits, vegetables
and natural foods. We should discourage eating processed foods,” he
added.
He called on Nigerians to stop certain
habits if they want their hearts to remain healthy. “The chief of these
bad habits is smoking. This fries out our arteries leading to heart
attack, stroke or even sudden death. Once we can avoid smoking, whether
first hand or second hand it will go a long way in saving our hearts and
lives. Also, excessive alcohol intake should be discouraged. But
moderate intake of alcohol like red wine is okay to keep the metabolism
well,” he added
He added that overweight could contribute to cardiovascular diseases.
He added that overweight could contribute to cardiovascular diseases.
He said as a general guide, it was best
Nigerians do health screenings regularly so they can tackle any likely
health issue on time, as late detection is often a problem in many
health issues, especially on cardiovascular diseases.
“We often say as a general guide, before
one enters primary school, that child should undergo a health check. If
someone enters secondary school, there should also be a basic check.
But the problem we often have is adults seem to be overtaken by work,
without realising that our health is also very important.”
Management and treatment
Also, Usim explained that many cardiac problems are treatable. “For high blood pressure, treatment is of two folds. First is lifestyle and the second is medication. For some people, lifestyle alone can correct the blood pressure, for others, they may need both lifestyle and medication.
Also, Usim explained that many cardiac problems are treatable. “For high blood pressure, treatment is of two folds. First is lifestyle and the second is medication. For some people, lifestyle alone can correct the blood pressure, for others, they may need both lifestyle and medication.
“Another thing is the cholesterol level.
Once one has excess fat in the system, the likelihood of these fats
deposited in the blood vessels cause progressive occlusion of the
arteries leading to blockage. If it happens in the heart it causes heart
attack, if it’s in the brain it causes stroke,” he added.
Continuing, he said: “when someone has a
heart attack, we have new drugs that can bring he heart back to life.
If the person is brought on time to Grays Cardiology Centre, the
technologies and drugs we have here can put the heart back in shape.
“Once the person is brought here on
time, we access the vessels, go to the heart, identify the blocked
artery, open it up and put in a stent. It’s a perfect cure for heart
attack. It’s called coronary angioplasty and angiography.
“Before, when someone has a heart
attack, it’s almost like a doomsday. But with our technology the
person’s life can be saved. We have saved many at this centre,” he
added.
According to the Practice Manager, Grays
Cardiology Centre, Mrs. Bisola Audifferen, part of the programmes
outlined to commemorate the day is holding series of lectures to
enlighten Nigerians on prevention, management and treatment of
cardiovascular diseases.
“We are doing free blood pressure check,
free Basic Mass Index (BMI) check, glaucoma check, free X-rays, visual
acquits check, free resting electrocardiogram check, free resting blood
sugar check, free consultations, among others.
“Those who will be diagnosed of high
blood pressure and other issues will be booked for a follow up and will
be given a 50 per cent treatment voucher which is only valid for
October, 2017. So such patients will not have to pay full treatment fee,
but half. We also make sure we emphasise to people that it’s not all
about consultations, but diagnosis and treatments which all work
together to provide quality care.
“As part of our corporate social
responsibility, we also do health talks in public gatherings, social
clubs and companies where we emphasise the need for healthy lifestyle.
This is because at Gray’s Cardiology Centre, we believe the heart is a
very vital organ, so people need to know how to manage it through
lifestyle choices,” she explained.
While encouraging Nigerians to get free
blood pressure check any time of the year at the centre, at 6 Ladipo
Bateye Street, GRA, Ikeja, she said Grays Cardiology Centre boasts of
state-of-the-art modern equipment including art stress echocardiogram,
resting electrocardiogram, 24 hours ambulatory monitor, ECG, two bed
intensive care units, ventilators, infusion pump, syringe, and several
other automated equipment.
“The medical director here is an
associate professor of Cardiology, there are other in-house
cardiologists and cardiology nurses working round the clock. So we have
the personnel that can give critical care for the survival of persons
with cardiovascular issues.”
But with elitist ambience and facilities
mostly seen in developed countries, Audifferen says treatment at the
centre is not expensive. “I always tell people that because they come
into a building with state-of-the-art equipment and classy environment
doesn’t make the place expensive. I tell them a standard healthcare
facility should naturally be like that. What we are actually doing is to
let people know this is what an ideal hospital should be.
“We are not expensive but we are very
competitive. Registration here is N5,000. We are the first independent
cardiac centre on the Mainland. And you should check other hospitals,
you can’t pay N5,000 registration to see a cardiologist. The least you
get is N10,000. But here, it is N5,000. I have once paid N35,000 to see a
specialist in another hospital for just 10 minutes,” she added.
Audifferen noted that since the centre opened June 16 this year, they have seen over 400 patients.
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