Director of Scientific Affairs, Nigerian Heart, Professor Adebayo Adeyemi, has advocated the teaching of medical education in the nation’s schools as part of efforts to control hypertension and other deadly ailments afflicting people all over the world.
Professor Adeyemi, who featured on The Splash FM Radio (105.5FM) programme, on Monday, tagged “Talking Point”, observed that lack of knowledge of medical history of many families had not assisted the medical world, particularly in Nigeria and some African countries in tackling and controlling ailments among the people.
He said when a family was abreast of its medical history, especially the prevailing medical issues that had resided in the family for generations, controlling such medical issues would definitely be easier and fewer deaths at young age would be controlled.
Noting that the 17th May of every year has been classified as “World Hypertension Day”, Professor Adeyemi said the essence of the classification of the day was to draw the attention of the whole world to the threat of hypertension to the survival of mankind.
Describing hypertension as a “silent killer”, Professor Adeyemi said about 1.6 billion people are affected all over the world.
He observed that while hypertension patients in so many developed countries seek early medical attention, most Nigerians never bothered about their health status.
He further noted that most Nigerians were prone to self medication while primary health care that should be readily available were virtually non existent.
He noted that the theme of the Hypertension Day “measure your blood pressure, control it, live long” is intended to create awareness of the deadly effect of hypertension on mankind.
Tobacco, alcohol, stress, noise pollution, depression, processed food, financial situation, insecurity are some of the factors that could trigger hypertension and consequently lead to early death or midwife other diseases such as cancer and diabetes.
He advised people to go for medical check on their blood pressure at least once in a month to prevent unwarranted death.
Professor Adeyemi, who is a former Chairman of the Governing Council of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, also observed that the people in the rural areas were more prone to sudden death from hypertension due to inadequate medical facilities in such places.
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