Nigerians have been advised to be conscious of what they eat and drink to minimise the risk of heart-related diseases.
A cardiologist based in the United States (U.S.), Dr Sabu George, yesterday alerted that many of staple food and beverages being consumed are prone to heart-related diseases.
He listed them as: bread, pounded yam, noodles, sugar, Coca Cola, Fanta, Pepsi, Seven Up and cassava, among others.
Dr George said that consuming the identified items on regular bases is dangerous to health as it could lead to cardiovascular-related diseases.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels.
George spoke at the opening of three-day free health screening programme tagged: “Medical Mission” organised by the Apapa-Iganmu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Lagos.
According to him, most cardiovascular-related diseases could be controlled, if detected at the early stage.
His words: “Cardiovascular diseases are a silent killer, and if not detected at the early stages, the sufferer is at high risk and can lead to sudden death. It is more expensive to treat the ailment and cheaper to prevent it by maintaining a healthy diet, regular exercise, checking cholesterol, avoiding too much of carbohydrates and sugar.
“We can avoid cardiovascular diseases by eating less of carbohydrates, but more of vegetables and drinking more water than fizzy drinks.
“We will ensure that any person detected to have such ailment will be given proper care by providing free treatment and there will be regular consultations, to monitor the patients.”
The cardiologist, a Nigerian, who has resided in the U.S. for more than two decades urged Nigerians to eat more of moinmoin, vegetable, melon soup and other soups.
Moinmoin, he said, is almost a complete meal because it doesn’t have side effects.
The council’s Sole Administrator, Mr Olumide Olayomi, said the free health screening was aimed at helping the sufferers of heart-related diseases and other ailments.
Olayomi said the programme was initiated to encourage the residents to know their health status.
The council chief said: “The purpose of this year’s programme organised by the council and the National Sports Lottery Foundation is to help people in the community to know their health status and to also receive adequate treatment.
“The health of people in the community is critical to the progress of this local council development area, because it will boost our economy because healthy people are always productive.
Olayomi said that many people were expected to benefit from the exercise, after which any critical health issues would be referred to the general hospitals and teaching hospitals, for further treatment.
He said: “The major aspect of this exercise is the dedication to capacity building development. The expert will teach our doctors and nurses on the basic cardiovascular health issues.’’
Wife of Lagos State Governor Mrs. Bolanle Ambode hailed Olayomi for the bold initiative to further boost the effort of the state government in the health sector.
Mrs. Ambode said government realises the necessity of good health, hence placed premium on healthy atmosphere.
She said: “The health of the people is their wealth because how healthy the people are, will directly determine the scope and extent of their productivity whether as government employees or staff of corporate concerns.
”The government’s attention to the medical needs of its workforce and residents of the state is evident in the continuous improvement of health infrastructure in the state.”
Former Secretary to the Lagos State Government Princess Aderenle Adeniran-Ogunsanya commended the council chair for the giant step taken.
“If you put the right people in the right place especially those with better exposure, Nigeria will move forward. The council being the nearest to the people could help drive government’s healthy living campaign,” she said.
