A Consultant Cardiologist, Dr Caleb Olukayode, has called for massive awareness and education on hypertension to reduce the rate at which the health condition affects people.
Olukayode, who works with the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), made the call on Friday in an interview in Lagos.
He decried the rate of sudden deaths among Nigerian young adults, saying that most hypertension-related complications were preventable with lifestyle change strategies combined with antihypertensive drug therapy.
He said that young adults should embrace preventive measures and therapeutic lifestyle changes that could help to live healthy life and thereby, curb the prevalence of hypertension.
He explained that multifaceted therapeutic lifestyle changes were an integral component in decreasing hypertension and reducing the risk for coronary heart disease (CHD).
The cardiologist said that many Nigerian young adults in their 30s were being diagnosed with hypertension.
According to him, the death of most young Nigerians can be linked to heart-related challenges caused by undetected and unmanaged hypertension.
Olukayode, who described hypertension as a silent killer, lamented that it was now common among young people unlike before when majorly old people of 45 years and above were seen with hypertension.
He said, “There have been instances of young Nigerians dying with heart-related diseases.
“In my earlier years of practice, high blood pressure is mostly an issue of the mature and old folks starting from 45, but now we see 28 to 35- year-old hypertensive patients.
“Therapeutic lifestyle changes are important for individuals with hypertension and are particularly important for those with elevated cardiovascular disease risk factors such as hyperlipidemia and diabetes”.
The cardiologist attributed the development to young life mentality syndrome and lack of preventive measures among the younger people.
He noted that lack of proper information and education about the disease were other major contributing factors.
“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.
“The second is the fact that they are not taking preventive measures and, of course, the lack of public information and sensitisation on the dangers associated with hypertension as well as low blood pressure.
“I believe with education and awareness; people will be more informed about the disease,” he said.
The cardiologist advised Nigerians to imbibe the culture of going for medical checkups from the age of 28, as absence of symptoms does not mean there was none.
“We have had some cases of young men dying of cardiac arrest during a tennis match, while jogging, and even as they went to bed.
“This could have been prevented if they knew they had heart problems. When you do a comprehensive health assessment, abnormalities in the body may be detected and corrected,” he said.
To reduce one’s risk of developing cardiovascular diseases , Olukayode recommended that individuals should reduce their salt, caloric and alcohol intake and as well avoid stress.
He explained that high blood pressure could also be hereditary, and advised those with a family history of the disease to be more watchful of their lifestyles while also maintaining a relationship with their cardiologists.
He said, “People should follow an eating pattern that includes nutrient-dense food and beverages, lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and nuts and seeds, while limiting sodium, added sugars, saturated fats and alcohol.
NAN
