There is no mystery; people should update their health regularly

Three weeks ago in Asaba, Delta State, two men, one of them identified as a lawyer, were found unconscious inside a vehicle. Although both men were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) for treatment, they were confirmed dead on arrival. Unfortunately, no autopsy was conducted before their relations were allowed to take away their remains, adding to the long statistics of Nigerians who died without medical explanation. Yet it should worry all of us that many Nigerians are becoming victims of sudden, unexpected and most often curious deaths.


Even when there may be no reliable statistics to prove his assertion, a consultant Neurologist, Dr. Seyi Roberts, said recently that about 600,000 people die annually from unexplained causes in Nigeria. He made the assertion in the course of his lecture at the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State chapter’s commemoration of the 2013 Physician Week. Dr. Roberts, who defined sudden death as unexpected death occurring within minutes or hours of onset of the symptoms in an apparently healthy young or middle- aged individual, added that such fatalities are prevalent in people suffering coronary heart disease, hypertension and diabetes mellitus.

Indeed, there really may be no mystery involved in many of these rapid and unexpected deaths among otherwise healthy persons. According to experts, heart disease is the most common cause of an unexpected sudden death in all age groups. It is more prevalent in adults in their 30s and 40s, and affects men twice as it does affect women. Some of the diseases are discovered and treated while the person is alive while, among many others, it may go unnoticed until the tragedy occurs. It could also occur because of wrong diagnosis.

Some of the problems arise in some patients when there are abnormal heart rhythms and the heart is unable to pump blood. Within minutes, this could cause death unless emergency treatment is begun immediately. In the case of heart attack, “there is a blockage in one or more of the coronary arteries, preventing the heart from receiving enough oxygen-rich blood,” said Dr. Olayiwola Ajileye, chief executive officer of Valor Health Options Ltd., United Kingdom. “If the Oxygen in the blood cannot reach the heart muscle, the heart becomes damaged.”

Incidentally, many of these ailments come without warning signs. In the case of sudden cardiac arrest for instance, over half of the victims die without symptoms. When there are signs, they come in the form of “racing heartbeat or they may feel dizzy, alerting them that a potentially dangerous heart problem has started.” Other symptoms listed include headache, chest discomfort, breathing problems, blurring vision and convulsion. A number of predisposing illnesses such as hypertension, stress, high cholesterol and diabetes may precipitate a sudden death syndrome. In a country where many of the citizens resort to self medication in order to bypass the cost of seeing a medical doctor, abuse of medications can result in dangerous drug interactions with lethal consequences, particularly among those who have pre-existing medical problems. Many people who are obese or suffering from ill-managed diabetes can easily fall victim of heart diseases and unexpected death.

However, the frequency of these deaths arising from cardiovascular or related diseases can be brought down considerably if people take time in keeping regular follow-up appointments with their doctors, taking medications as prescribed and making certain lifestyle changes. “I urge Nigerians to attend regular health screening, at least once a year,” said Dr. Ajileye. “If they can afford it, it should be as regular as they service their cars and generators. This gives them opportunity to be updated on their health situation.” In addition, quitting such habits like smoking, losing weight among those who are obese and exercising regularly can help in containing incidents of sudden deaths.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/sudden-and-mysterious-deaths/168234/

It is a new year; people should go for check up oh. No be witch lack anyone pako for head for village alone oh........................