Farki:
Thank you for creating this topic and thank you mods for pushing it to the front page.

The best way to protect yourself is to first know your cardiovascular health status and if you are an individual who is at risk. Such people are;

- People over 40 especially men.
- People who are overweight
- People with a family history of cardiovascular disorders
- People with stressful jobs or going through traumatic life situations
- People who abuse drugs

You can prevent sudden heart attacks by
- Knowing your family history
- checking and testing with your doctor regularly, preferably once a month if you are a high risk individual.
- maintaining a healthy weight and diet
- and very important stay off recreational drugs.

I know of someone who survived but it was a real struggle and most of her mobility has been compromised. She's still very sharp mentally though.

Thanks for the guide

Dvin:
Yes they do. Managed one case recently, haemrrhagic stroke. Px was very bad at presentation. I didn't believe he could make it initially. Wanted to refer to the specialist, neurologist but the relatives declined on account of financial constraint. The px made it but has mild neurological deficits. Still on recovering process though.

Thanks for providing care.

You are a Hero. We celebrate you.

lecoeur:

Nice write up says a lot about our carelessness regarding our health issues.
My dad was really been ignorant about his health challenge until he slumped one day got ill, man is fighting partial stroke now.
Too bad

Wishing you beloved Dad a quick and steady recovery. Thank God he survived

Mutemenot:
We medical Checkup here, we believe only the sick goes to the hospital not knowing we have some illness that has little or no symptoms .. infact some illness develops symptoms at the point of death. With regular medical Checkup, we 'll easily overcome the challenges...
Sad to say This, my father of died stroke, alot believed it was a spiritual attack but I know it wasn't..

Sorry about the loss of your Dad.

RIP to him

itoroakban:
I'm logging into Nairaland for the first time in 3 years to reply to this post, because this one hits close to home, my mother had an hemorragic stroke in early September, and it's by the Grace of Google that she survived.

Mum's stroke occurred on the morning of September 6, she suddenly started complaining of intense headache, and for the first 10 minutes my younger sister and I were confused not knowing what to do. It was only after quickly googling for the cause of sudden intense headache that I saw that 'Thunderclap Headaches' were one of the major symptoms of Hemorragic Stroke.

We rushed her to a nearby hospital, where they checked her bp and found it was 190 over something (can't really remember the specific figure). She was in a coma for 3 days, then in a minimally conscious state for 2+ weeks where she was conscious but couldn't move any part of her body.

She started recovering in early October, and Physically she's now fully recovered, but memory wise, my heart breaks every day. The stroke led to my wonderful, funny, witty, joke-telling mother losing a major portion of her memories prior to the Stroke, and completely losing the ability to form new memories. She can cook, do things around the house, and hold a basic conversation, but whatever she does in the morning, she forgets by evening, and during the evenings her condition worsens. She wakes up after an afternoon nap thinking it's early in thr morning, brushes more than 4 times a day because she's forgotten that she has already brushed, and lots of other minor heart-wrenching issues.

And to be honest, all this is my fault. After mum was diagnosed of high blood pressure in 2018, I should have bought a bp checking machine for her to use in checking her bp every morning, so as to know whether or not to take a blood pressure reducing drug, but foolishly the thought never crossed my mind.

So I'm begging everyone who reads this, please and please, PLEASE, don't be as stupid as I was, if a loved one has high blood pressure, please either get a bp machine for her to check her blood pressure every morning and ask a pharmacist/doctor for bp medications she can be taking regularly, or at the very least take her to a nearby pharmacy every week to check her bp. If you're too busy, beg someone close to you to be doing it. Because if the loved one gets a Hemorragic stroke in Nigeria today, whether she recovers or not, you've lost her.

It's been more than 3 months, and I consider myself a very strong hearted person, but every 2 or 3 days, I look at mum, and I break down in tears.

O my God! I just shed tears now reading your story. I'm so sorry with what you're going through. Well, thank God you still have your Mum with you. Hopefully her condition continues to improve. And please stop blaming yourself; every tragedy in life could have been averted, but tragedies keep happening. That's solid proof we are imperfect.

ALEX182:
Hemorrhagic stroke is more deadly because of bleeding in the brain and the compression of the brain by the bleeding. If immediate intervention isn't carried out, death is sure. This condition usually leaves it survivors with permanent disabilities.

Myocardial infarction or heart attack on the other hand is less fatal even without intervention. But the problem with a heart attack is that the part of the heart that doesn't receive blood flow due to ischemia becomes less functional. This eventually leads to heart failure and eventually death in the long run. This process may take years too.

Thanks for the enlightenment.

higgs:
Thanks OP

My pleasure

enokings:

Personally I'm taking the time to know the cause of the disease that eventually leads to this emergencies and also taking steps that could likely help prevent things from getting so bad, and I think the time has come for each and everyone to begin doing the same. Because I'm not a medical professional, I cannot recommend what people should or shouldn't do to reduce their risk, however, I'll gladly share materials that can educate people on lifestyle choices that can help them.

Lost a young colleague 3 days ago to this. Very apt topic

So sorry for your loss. The problem is very alarming.

Depressed101:
op nice work. I will keep up with you. Honestly I feel the same way you do. I can begin to count how many times I've asked my parents "how e take die" their reply will always be "he slumped and died" or "he slept and didn't wake up". It's that bad and very rampant, even at such there is statistics from NBS to quantify the impact of this health condition.

I was greeted with the same reception you got when I tried to enlighten my own family and friends "what heart attack" really is and how we can learn manage it.

I get replies like "abeg, person wey dey healthy yesterday?, dem don kill that one since, na spiritual" I stopped enlightening them. But my interest in the subject has been rekindled reading your post..

I think the best thing to do is find an NGO in health sector that we can bring their attention to about the subject and have them create awareness. What do you think

I agree with you 100%. A noble idea! I'm personally thinking of creating perhaps a YouTube channel through which to educate our people on matters like this and more. But that's all I've been able to do thus far, "thinking" and no more.

I can get in touch with you if you wish. You can quote me with a means of contact if safe to do so here.

We are in a country with a wack healthcare system, so one must be concerned about preventive rather than curative approach in combating ailments. Some sicknesses in this country is as good as a death sentence. So adopting healthy lifestyles is very important. Most especially for all these chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes,stroke, cardiac arrest,cancer etc.

Eat right
Exercise
Make clean table water your best liquid
Sleep well
Be happy.


And so many illnesses will be far from you.

gensteejay:

For a layperson? Are you sure?

Quite sure..It's a stepwise procedure..Master the steps and then get the mechanics of hand placement and there you have it..

HBB1:


MI is less fatal?!

Continue!

Professor Emeritus!

Generally MI is more fatal than stroke, however MI is less common in naija as compared to stroke. Also you can survive an MI without any disability, however surviving a stroke especially haemorrhagic stroke without any disability is rare.

In naija Haemorrhagic stroke kills more people than heart attack, but in places like USA the reverse is the case.

BENARI:


I agree with you 100%. A noble idea! I'm personally thinking of creating perhaps a YouTube channel through which to educate our people on matters like this and more. But that's all I've been able to do thus far, "thinking" and no more.

I can get in touch with you if you wish. You can quote me with a means of contact if safe to do so here.

sent you a pm

Mum has been down for three years now,and counting.
I sincerely hope and pray she lives very long with it.

@BENARI This post is very timely and is a wake-up call for me. For too long I have put off learning CPR, not because I do not know how important it is, far from that. But because I really have not taken the time to deeply meditate on it's importance in the event of an emergency. I guess you could say as humans we simply do not like to anticipate tragedy.

Thanks for this frank reminder to this truth we most often shelve.

Depressed101:
sent you a pm

Ok

dynicks:
Na only wealthy Nigerians fit experience that one.....or have u ever heard of a poor Nigerian that have died of either of those attacks before?.....the level of suffering a poor man suffers in this country pass heart attack still yet they survive it......abeg none of them get level for where street niggars dey.........That thing dey observe face/condition first before it attacks

This yo level of ignorance ehn can only be changed by God

CalliDora1:
Yes because this country itself is a big heart attack.

Most of u are looking 4 ways to make fun out of serious issues

BENARI:
It is with a sense of dismay that I create this thread. I don't know about you, but I've observed particularly in the last decade or two that more and more Nigerians are dying suddenly; either they slump, sleep and not wake up, or simply let out a shout(my head my head my head), and next thing you know, they are gone. These 3 scenarios are typical of Heart attacks, Cardiac arrest, and Hemorrhagic Strokes.

Sad to say, a lot of the people I know, even seemingly very literate ones tend to blame such deaths on spiritual attacks, and for that reason I believe we miss the opportunity to fashion out a way to prevent as much as possible, a recurrence.

I've often wondered why everyone I learnt had a heart attack in Nigeria or a Hemorrhagic stroke ends up dying. Perhaps I've not been very observant, but I've never met a survivor of any of these medical emergencies. Mind you, I'm not talking about the less severe stroke that usually partially paralyze a part of the body.
Ironically, in the western world, statistics shows that only a third of victims end up dying from these emergencies. Some persons have even survived repeated heart attacks.

Well, I know some will say we don't have the facilities and emergency response, yes, but even those who do make it to the hospital end up dying. On the part of the populace, we are usually helpless when such emergencies occur which I find rather unfortunate. Now let me say this, the reason why people end dying from heart attacks particularly in Nigeria, is not only due to inadequate facilities, but also due to ignorance. A simple CPR(chest compress) which can be performed by anybody can and have saved many lives(a CPR is by no means a solution to heart attacks, but can help to keep the victim alive till medical professionals take over management). I simply cannot understand why both the government and we the people have not yet seen the need to educate ourselves about this simple live saving procedure. Personally I've tried to train loved ones on this procedure, but often they laugh it off or don't take it seriously. They're usually quick to label me a coward, pessimist or faithless person. I'm certain I'll do whatever I can to help a heart attack victim if I encounter any such emergencies, but I sometimes worry that no one will be able to come to my aid if I were to be a victim some day.

I think we need a change of attitude toward this sudden killers. More and more are dying needless deaths, and we can do more that just blowing breeze or pouring water on victims while we wait for them to die. We need to educate ourselves, our spouses, children, friends, and relatives. Your effort can save a loved ones life including yours. This emergencies can befall anyone irrespective of age or gender(although men 30 years and above are disproportionately affected, but women over 45 years of age are at increased risk)

Doctors and Medical professionals in the house please throw more light on this topic; how to prevent the conditions that leads to this medical emergencies and what to do when such emergencies do occur. I'm however aware of the ignorance and debate that exist in the medical field as to what causes the disease that leads to these emergencies.

The sudden death trend is an alarming one in Nigeria that should be declared a national emergency in my view. Looks like 2 in every 3 deaths this days are sudden.

Personally I'm taking the time to know the cause of the disease that eventually leads to this emergencies and also taking steps that could likely help prevent things from getting so bad, and I think the time has come for each and everyone to begin doing the same. Because I'm not a medical professional, I cannot recommend what people should or shouldn't do to reduce their risk, however, I'll gladly share materials that can educate people on lifestyle choices that can help them.

This topic hits hard. I lost my dad to hemorrhagic stroke barely two weeks ago.

Mandesz:

Most of u are looking 4 ways to make fun out of serious issues

Oops... I didn't read the details. Only replied to the caption.

It is well.

.

Ugcare is the solution to this heart related issues

gbemishile:
Mum has been down for three years now,and counting.
I sincerely hope and pray she lives very long with it.

Ugcare natural plant-based therapy will help your mum tremendously.Buy it for her she will be happy for you

nickishire:

This topic hits hard. I lost my dad to hemorrhagic stroke barely two weeks ago.

So sorry for your loss.

Please take heart

RIP to Dad

Your topic @op is quite interesting. I keep telling people that one of the major problems of healthcare in Nigeria is poor health seeking behavior of majority of Nigerians irrespective of level of education. Do you know that most persons here believe that you do not treat stroke or heart attack in the hospital rather they should be taken immediately to religious housed for prayer? Thereby oftentimes wasting precious hours that would have been used to save lives. Do you know that they believe that once you administer ‘drip’ to such patients that they die not knowing that all ‘drips’ are not the same?
I recently lost an uncle’s wife who was hypertensive but refused her medication, came down with stroke but won’t be taken to the hospital even against my recommendations as a Doctor.
Religion ( false) is enslaving us beyond iimagination. Religious leaders are meant to be spiritual healers- not Doctors but they are taking over everything.
I weep for my country!!!
A patient comes down with Transient Ischemic Attack(TIA), is taken to a church and he recovers as if nothing happens they begin to give testimony not knowing that TIAs behave that way and that testimony time should be time for further investigation and proper management.
Nigeria and Nigerians needs to wake up. Public health education should be given the attention it deserves.
A word they say, is enough for the wise.

sodiamond:
Do we really have hospitals in Nigeria that can perform minor heart surgeries like insertion of stent to enable blood flow? Doctors pls answer

of course. many in lagos. but they are expensive

Akatta:
Ugcare natural plant-based therapy will help your mum tremendously.Buy it for her she will be happy for you

How much is it and for how long will she be using it?

HBB1:


Are strokes only caused by High BP?


If you have an irregular heart rate, you dont know it predisposes to Strokes?


Professor!

brah i know they dont teach you in university of ogbomoso the name of the irregular heart rhythm tht causes stroke but let a learned man enlighten you. its called ATRIAL FIBRILLATION. am tired of you half baked university of ogbomoso medical students

BENARI:


Please accept my sympathies. Thank God your Dad survived it. You must however help him take necessary steps to avoid a recurrence please.

please tell me some steps. Daddy can be stubborn gan, he even went to farm yesterday

lekki1444:
brah i know they dont teach you in university of ogbomoso the name of the irregular heart rhythm tht causes stroke but let a learned man enlighten you. its called ATRIAL FIBRILLATION. am tired of you half baked university of ogbomoso medical students

You should b ashamed of yourself!

You probably googled this didn't you?

When you talk to laymen like you, you use simple terms, or they didn't teach you that in 'America?'

FYI Lautech has produced wonderful Doctors working the World over.
(I didn't school in LAUTECH by the way)

Now back to you, my dear Quack, what did you say you trained as again, and what Uni in 'America' did you attend?

I know an American trained Graduate when I see one-- both my Parents are, so you can't bamboozle me.

I am however certain you haven't seen the four walls of a University and your persistence in proving otherwise just makes it worse.

Ogbeni, na school you no go, you no kill Person!

QUACK!

[quote author=Kinematics post=96901844]


Don't know about that data.

HBB1:


You should b ashamed of yourself!

You probably googled this didn't you?

When you talk to laymen like you, you use simple terms, or they didn't teach you that in 'America?'

FYI Lautech has produced wonderful Doctors working the World over.
(I didn't school in LAUTECH by the way)

Now back to you, my dear Quack, what did you say you trained as again, and what Uni in 'America' did you attend?

I know an American trained Graduate when I see one-- both my Parents are, so you can't bamboozle me.

I am however certain you haven't seen the four walls of a University and your persistence in proving otherwise just makes it worse.

Ogbeni, na school you no go, you no kill Person!

QUACK!

AHHH LAUTECH GRADUATE. it all makes sense now