SUDDEN DEATH: WHY YOU ARE GUILTY

The prevalence of Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) can never be overemphasized. Studies have shown that CVDs are a leading cause of death not only in Nigeria but in the entire world as well. In Nigeria, it has been reported that over the past 2 decades, there has been a rapid increase in CVDs most especially hypertension and heart attack.
What is Cardiovascular disease? This is a general term for conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels. It includes any disorder, abnormality, or failure to function well, relating to the heart and blood vessels or the circulation. It is usually associated with a build-up of fatty deposits inside the arteries (atherosclerosis) and an increased risk of blood clots. It can also be associated with damage to arteries in organs such as the brain, heart, kidneys and eyes.
Four main types of CVDs are coronary heart disease (where the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle is blocked or reduced thereby placing an increased strain on the heart, and can lead to angina/chest pain, heart attacks and heart failure); strokes and transient ischemic attack/mini-stroke (a stroke is where the blood supply to a part of the brain is cut off, which can cause brain damage and even death. A transient ischemic attack is similar to a stroke but the blood supply to the brain is only temporarily disrupted); peripheral arterial disease (this occurs when there is a blockage in the arteries to the limbs, usually the legs and can cause dull or cramping leg pain, hair loss on the legs and feet, numbness or weakness in the legs and persistent open sores on the feet and legs); and aortic diseases (these are a group of conditions affecting the aorta which is the largest blood vessel in the body, it carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body), one of the most common aortic disease is aortic aneurysm where the aorta becomes weakened and bulges outwards with the risk of bursting and causing life-threatening bleeding.
Although CVD has been identified as one of the main causes of sudden death and disability, it can largely be prevented by living a healthy lifestyle. Unfortunately, there are certain things that people indulge in that actually increase their risk of developing CVD, these things are referred to as “risk factors”. People indulge in some of these negative habits under the misguided belief that they are ‘enjoying life’, some of these habits include;

1. Smoking: The harmful substances in tobacco can damage and narrow a person’s blood vessels. Smoking and other tobacco use form a significant risk factor for CVD. No matter how a person smokes it (cigarettes, cigars, electronic cigarette, hookah, pipes, dissolvable tobacco, snuff, among others), tobacco is dangerous to the health, there are no safe substances in any tobacco products. Research has shown that cigarettes contain about 600 ingredients and when they burn, they generate more than 7000 chemicals. While the effects of smoking may not be immediate, the complications and damage can last for years. It has been discovered that smoking is the most common preventable cause of death. Quitting it can reverse many of its effects but many people are yet to give up this harmful act and many continue to fall into addiction.
2. High cholesterol: Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in the blood. If a person’s blood contains too much LDL cholesterol (cholesterol carried by low-density lipoprotein), it is known as high cholesterol. High cholesterol can cause a person’s blood vessels to narrow and increase their risk of developing a blood clot. One of the dangers associated with high cholesterol is that it is a silent problem, many people don’t even realize that they have high cholesterol until they develop serious complications. How does a person develop high cholesterol? Lifestyle factors such as inactivity, smoking and eating too many foods that are high in cholesterol, saturated fats and trans fats such as fried foods, processed meats, cookies, cakes, ice cream, pastries, and other sweets.
3. Inactivity: It is a well-known fact that Nigerians do not deem exercise and fitness as necessities, neglecting that failure to exercise regularly greatly increases a person’s risk of developing high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and obesity which are all risk factors for CVD.
4. Being overweight or obese: An overweight or obese person has an increased risk of developing diabetes and high blood pressure, both of which are risk factors for CVD. Basically, a person is at an increased risk of CVD if their body mass index (BMI) is 25 and above; a man with a waist measurement of 94cm (about 37 inches) or more, or a woman with a waist measurement of 80cm (about 31.5 inches) or more.
5. Not going for regular check-up: This is another prevalent factor in Nigeria. Many Nigerians only see their doctors or go to the hospital when something is wrong forgetting that medical practitioners are not only there to treat but they are also there to give expert advice on how to prevent many illnesses. The truth is that there are many health conditions that can be prevented with proper guidance and lifestyle changes but many people do not get to know this because they do not give their health care providers the opportunity to advise. Further, there are also many health conditions that can be easily treated if they are discovered early. But how do you expect them to be discovered early if you do not do the needful by going for regular check-ups? Many serious ailments do not show symptoms in their early stages while some show certain symptoms that people may not take seriously because they do not know better. A lot of people get to the hospital only when matters have become worse and something that could have been easily treated if it had been caught early or even avoided altogether, becomes a life-threatening condition.
   

These are a few reasons highlighting the roles we play in contributing to the rapid increase in CVDs which are a major cause of sudden death.