Expert expresses concern over rise in cardiovascular diseases among Nigerians

A Consultant Physician/Cardiologist, Dr. Iseko Iseko has expressed concern over a rise in cardiovascular diseases among the low and middle income earners in country.

He said this during the 3rd Abuja Cardiovascular Symposium themed: “Practical Cardiovascular Medicine Skills for the Healthcare Professional”

People in Nigeria low and middle income who suffers from CVDs and other non-communicable diseases have less access to effective and equitable health care services which respond to their need.

As a result, some of them die younger from CVDs and other non-communicable diseases, in their most productive years.

At the household levels, sufficient evidence is emerging to prove that CVDs and other non-communicable diseases contribute to poverty due to catastrophic health spending and high out -of – pocket expenditure.

At macro-economic levels, CVDs place a heavy burden on the economies of low-and middle-income countries.

Out of the 17 million premature deaths (under the age of 70) due to non-communicable diseases can be prevented by addressing behavioral risk factors such as tobacco, physical inactivity and harmful use of alcohol using population – wide strategies.

People with cardiovascular disease or who are at high cardiovascular risk (due to at presence of one or more risk factors such as hypertension diabetes, hyperlipidemia or already established disease) need early detection and management using counseling and medicine, as appropriate.

Heart attacks and stroke are usually acute events and are mainly caused by a blockage that prevents blood from flowing to the heart or brain.

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The most common reason for this is a buildup of fatty deposit on the inner walls of the blood vessels that supply the brain or from blood clots.

The cause of heart attacks and strokes are usually the presence of a combination of risk factors, such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet and obesity, physical inactivity and harmful use of alcohol, hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia.

At least three quarters of the world deaths from CVDs occur in low-and middle-income countries. People in low and middle income countries often do not have the benefit of integrated primary health care programmes for early detection and treatment of people with risk factors compared to people in high -income countries.