LUTH doctors advise Nigerians to prevent heart diseases with walk

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The association’s President, Dr Ramon Moronkola, gave the advice while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of their “Cardiovascular Walk ’’ in Ikeja.

The walk is part of activities heralding their 2015 Health Week and Scientific Conference in Lagos.

Moronkola, who noted that more active or fit individuals tended to develop less Coronary Heart Diseases (CHD) than their sedentary counterparts, said that 30 to 45 minutes brisk walk daily reduced the risk.

According to him, if CHD develops in active or fit individuals, it occurs at a later age and tends to be less severe.

“This walk is about acting what we profess. We tell our patients all the time that exercise is good for the heart and we need to set the pace.

“Indulging in exercises such as climbing, the charisma walking, swimming, jogging, biking and others.

“These exercises can help you burn calories and fat, stabilise your blood sugar and prevent heart diseases and stroke.

“To effectively improve your heart health is to start walking, it is enjoyable, free, easy and social and a great exercise.

“Take a 30 to 40 minutes brisk walk daily, three to four times a week,’’ he told NAN.

“A sedentary lifestyle is one of the five major risk factors along with high blood pressure, abnormal values for blood lipids, smoking, and obesity for cardiovascular disease.

“Evidence from many scientific studies shows that reducing these risk factors decreases the chance of having a heart attack or experiencing another cardiac event such as a stroke.’’

Moronkola also urged the Federal Government to invest in an all encompassing health promotion policy to reduce and the rate of cardiovascular diseases and congenital heart diseases in children.

“We have a great challenge in managing and treating congenital heart disease such as Hole in the Heart in Nigeria.

“This is one of the reasons for medical tourism because the surgery facility is not available in the country and where it is available, it is expensive.

“We call on the government to invest in both human and material resources to ensure that children with these congenital heart diseases are adequately treated in the country,’’ Moronkola said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 2015 Health Week and Scientific Conference commenced on Monday and will end on Dec. 13.

The doctors also held a medical outreach at the Police College, Ikeja, where no fewer than 200 persons were screened for blood pressure, glucose level, eye diseases and dental check up.

Source: Vanguard