Cardiologist advises Nigerians to guard against sudden death

November 7, 2018

By Ijendu Iheaka


Dr Chidi Ubani-Ukoma, a Consultant Cardiologist with Abia State Ministry of Health, has advised Nigerians to visit hospital regularly for check-up and change their lifestyles to avoid sudden death.

Ubani-Ukoma gave the advice in Aba on Wednesday in an interview with our reporter.

The consultant was reacting to the rise in recorded sudden deaths in Abia and other parts of the country.

The cardiologist warned that the number of sudden deaths in Nigeria would likely increase unless Nigerians change their lifestyles, concept of food and visit hospitals early.

The expert said that hypertension and diabetes which trigger cardio-vascular and cerebro-vascular diseases and caused heart, brain and blood vessel dysfunction were key causes of sudden death.

According to the doctor, pulmonary embolism, the blocking of the vessel that supplies blood to the lungs by blood clots, also results in sudden death of a victim of such occurrence.

“The primary cause of heart disease in our environment is high blood pressure (HBP) and recently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) published a frightening statistics saying that one in three people would be known to have high blood pressure.

“A study in Nigeria by Ogar et al says the prevalence of HBP is closing in on 42 per cent that is, almost 50 per cent of the population.

He said those in the urban areas, especially, would be having high blood pressure issues in their life time.

“HBP can be prevented. If someone comes down with HBP, although it is not curable, it could be managed and controlled.

“The first thing to do is that the person’s lifestyle has to change.

“Life style changes should be adopted vigorously from the start, but if this does not work, then drug management should be applied,“ he said.

Ubani-Ukoma said people should be educated on the options on adopting good lifestyle changes and drug management to check their risks of sudden collapse and deaths.

He condemned the attitude of some Nigerians who patronised quacks and prayer houses before seeking medical help, adding that such behaviour increased their risk of dying from manageable diseases.

Ubani-Ukoma urged Nigerians to visit hospitals early when they see a symptom of any disease, especially heart disease which manifests through shortness of breath after a little physical activity which they tolerated earlier.

He said that fumes could harm the respiratory system, causing Chronic Obstructive Airway Diseases like Chronic Bronchitis, Bronchial Asthma and later attacking the heart which relates to the lungs in its function.

The cardiologist also warned people to desist from consumption of processed sugary foods and drinks to reduce the rising case of diabetes which he quoted a 2016 WHO study to have said had increased three time from 1980 to 2016.

Ubani-Ukoma further urged Nigerians “to rethink their concept of what they call food” adding that “food is not only yam, garri, rice and beans.’’

“Eating carbohydrate three times a day and taking to a sedentary lifestyle,always sitting in one’s car, office, house or tricycle is dangerous.

“To prevent these chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, and even eye problems, people should begin to consume fruits, nuts, vegetables and whole grains', he said.