AFCON: Cardiac Society Warns Against Over-Excitement During Final Match
The Nigerian Cardiac Society, has cautioned Nigerians to avoid getting overly excited during games, and emotional events, while advising taking breaks if needed.
The warning is coming ahead of the final match of the ongoing African Cup of Nations between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and their Cote D’Ivoire counterpart.
The society in a statement in Ilorin, Kwara State on Saturday jointly signed by Professor Augustine Odili, the National President, Professor Chizindu Alinkor and Abiodun Akintunde, Secretary-General and Publicity Secretary of the society respectively commiserated with the families of those whose death was linked to the semi-final match played on Wednesday.
The society, however, warned that sports and other emotional events can trigger arrhythmias, heart attacks, and strokes in those with underlying heart conditions.
The society observed that while they cannot authoritatively confirm the exact cause of death in these situations without prejudice, it is a duty to call the attention of Nigerians to the very possibility that sudden death can often occur either in the presence/absence of risk factors.
The experts explained that many of these risk factors are highly prevalent among Nigerians and are also poorly controlled.
They described sudden death as a natural, unexpected fatal event occurring within one hour from the onset of symptoms, in an apparently healthy subject, or in one whose disease was not so severe to predict such an abrupt outcome.
They explained further that the risk factors for heart disease are many, including lack of physical exercise, smoking tobacco, consuming alcohol, and eating unhealthy diets rich in salt and saturated fats and low in fresh fruits and vegetables.
The experts in heart diseases observed that, three out of every 10 adult Nigerians have high blood pressure, many of whom are unaware of their hypertensive status.
The experts in heart diseases observed that, three out of every 10 adult Nigerians have high blood pressure, many of whom are unaware of their hypertensive status.
They also called for adequate remuneration for health workers to discourage brain drain in the health sector, and promoting effective lifestyle modification to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease among the population.
The society called for calm and collective activity of all Nigerians to stem the tide of the rising cardiovascular disease scare among Nigerians with effective surveillance and population-oriented preventive strategies.
