Cardiologists have warned about a growing silent epidemic of heart disease in Nigeria, noting that many people with very high blood pressure are unaware of their precarious health condition. The heart care medical experts said it has become imperative for all Nigerians to embrace the culture of going to pharmacies and hospitals to check their blood pressure and get treatment if it is high to ensure it is within the normal range.
The cardiologists warned that patients with very high blood pressure are like a ticking time bomb that can explode anytime. Uncontrolled blood pressure, they said, could cause health problems like stroke and cardiac complications anytime without giving a sign.
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, a normal blood pressure range is less than 120/80 mmHg.
Speaking in an interview with PUNCH HealthWise, a Consultant Physician and Cardiologist with Providence Multi-Specialty Hospital, Abuja, Dr. John Asekhame, urged Nigerians not to joke with symptoms of any health conditions they are experiencing, warning that uncontrolled blood pressure can cause someone to slump and die anytime.
The cardiologist stressed the need for regular blood pressure checks, warning those with symptoms not to ignore them.
Recall that the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mariam Katagum, had slumped at an official event in Bauchi State on Monday, as reported by the PUNCH.
Katagum, who was in Bauchi to launch an empowerment programme on Monday at the Sani Mallam Shopping plaza located along the Ahmadu Bello Way, Bauchi, was said to have suddenly collapsed as she tried to deliver her speech.
She was immediately rushed by officials to the Trauma Centre of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital for medical attention.
The detail of the health status of the minister, however, has not been made public.
Giving insight into why people slump, Dr. Asekhame, said many things can cause a person to slump.
The physician explained, “Simple things that can cause a patient to slump could be cardiac or non-cardiac causes.
“Excessive dehydration, excessive heatstroke, and low blood sugar could cause a patient to collapse. Even if the patient may have been having some form of illness, common malaria can cause the patient to slump.
“For the cardiac causes, the patient could have an arrhythmia, where the heart just beats abnormally and very fast. That can cause a patient to collapse.
“Sudden rise in blood pressure and complications of blood pressure such as stroke can cause a person to collapse.
“Also, a heart attack and cardiac arrest can cause someone to slump in addition to non-cardiac things that I have mentioned.”
According to him, the reason why hypertension is called a silent killer is that in most people, it does not give any sign until it causes problems like stroke and cardiac complications.
To prevent these cases, the cardiologist said Nigerians should check their blood pressure regularly.
He further counselled, “Nigerians having palpitations, some form of dizziness and blackout should go and see their doctor.
“If you notice that your blood pressure is not controlled with or without medication, it is a cause for you to see your doctor.
“In this time that we are in, all Nigerians should go to the chemist, pharmacy, and hospital to check their blood pressure to be sure that it is within the normal range.
“This is because a lot of people are walking around as time bombs with very high and dangerous blood pressure.
“People should not depend on symptoms they usually associate with elevated blood pressure before going for medical check because if something bad is about to happen, there may be no symptoms.”
Dr.Asekhame also urged employers to encourage their employees to go for regular blood pressure checks.
According to the American Heart Association, a heart-stopping condition that causes about half of all cardiovascular-related deaths seems to happen in an instant, with no symptoms.
It, however, said several recent studies show that, sometimes, people who experience sudden cardiac arrest have warning signs hours – and even weeks – ahead of time.
“Sudden cardiac arrest happens when an electrical disturbance in the heart causes it to stop abruptly, halting the flow of blood to the brain and vital organs. Death can follow within minutes if the heart rhythm is not restored with an electrical shock.
“About a quarter of cardiac arrest patients treated by emergency medical workers don’t experience symptoms, says AHA.
In an article published by AHA in 2016, titled, ‘Heart-stopping condition could come with warning signs’, a Professor of Medicine at Duke University Hospital who has been researching sudden cardiac death prevention for about 20 years, Dr. Sana Al-Khatib, said some of the symptoms of cardiac arrest can be very clear.
“That’s where raising awareness would help. But some patients also have vague symptoms. People at risk — those with coronary artery disease or multiple risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and smoking — shouldn’t ignore the symptoms.
“If you have clear symptoms, seek medical attention, and if you have risk factors, even if the symptoms are vague, seek medical attention and be assertive and ask the right questions”, Al-Khatib said.
source: HealthWise
