The Cardiac Unit, Department of Medicine, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals, complex, in conjunction with the Nigeria Medical Association, National Committee on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) joined the world in celebrating and creating awareness of World Heart Day today, 29th of September, 2023, with a seminar titled along with the theme of the year, Use your Heart, Know your Heart’, held at the Cardiac unit of the hospital.
Speaking on the theme for the year, Matron Mayowa Akinsete, declared that, it is necessary to use the heart well, know what it entails, and know what it wants.
She described the heart as a hollow and muscular organ of the cardiovascular system filled with blood vessels, which take the hormones and nutrients around the body, showing how important it is to the body, it should be guided from diseases.
In her words, “Cardiovascular disease is the fastest killing disease and when it happens, the structural part of the heart and blood vessels are affected.”
She emphasized the types of heart diseases which include cardiac arrest, arrhythmia (improper beating of the heart), coronary artery disease, hypertension, stroke, and more can be caused by medications obesity, high levels of cholesterol, congenital causes, and can be hereditary.
She further urged the public to watch out for signs and symptoms like chest pain, swollen legs, fatigue, lightheadedness, dizziness, and more.
According to Matron Akinsete, the best ways to avoid heart disease are engaging in physical exercise, saying no to alcohol and smoking, reducing salt intake, and taking more water than carbonated drinks.
She described a heart as a friend, an individual should know what it likes and dislikes, to make the friendship last.
Dr Olumide Akinyele urged those present at the seminar to always check their blood pressure and ECG, (electrocardiogram).
He recommended taking ten thousand steps a day, sleeping six to eight hours a day, taking fruits and vegetables daily, monitoring body mass index (BMI) and eating more fish than meat.
The Head of the Cardiology Unit, Prof Rasaq Adebayo, in his goodwill message, appreciated everyone present and advised that regular checkups be taken seriously by every living person as heart disease respects no one.
