Doctor advises Nigerians to improve hygiene, diet to avoid heart diseases
Worried by the increasing cases of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), an American-trained cardiologist and medical director Eugene Nwosu has called on Nigerians to improve their hygiene, diets, and regular exercise to avoid cardiovascular diseases.
Nwosu made this call at the opening his clinic United Heart Hospital and Clinic a full-service heart hospital with a cardiology clinic in Victoria Island Lagos over the weekend.
According to him, the problem of heart conditions is largely due to poor health and lifestyles, and a majority of people go to health facilities when it is too late to save their lives.
“If people regularly went for medical check-up, the number of heart-related deaths would significantly reduce, if you are having a severe chest pain and you show up in the right heart centre and the arteries opened, you will be completely fine, if you show up 12hours late it is going to affect you, and your activities. Prevention is very important and then educating people about the signs so as to get early treatment. Superior doctor prevents but the inferior doctor cures,” he noted.
His words: “The way we live in this country expose us to high blood pressure, family history also plays a big role. There are people it runs in their family, and then you have to be proactive. In the early days’ infectious diseases are the big killers, but with people leaving the villages for urban city, nobody wants to walk again. How many people are eating vegetables? Diet is important. Healthier environments are very active. They walk up to 17,000 steps a day.”
“The most important thing is for people to know how to prevent heart disease and awareness is very important,” he said.
Nwosu revealed that Nigeria is catching up with the Western world in the area of heart disease due to change in eating habits.
Speaking on the decision to leave the comfort of his medical practice in the US, Nwosu stated that Nigeria has serious challenges in many areas but we can make a difference especially in the speciality area of cardiovascular diseases.
“I am bringing in my many years of practising experience with first class medical equipment, infrastructure and in a conducive environment, which will go a long way in helping Nigerians seeking help around the world to get professional medical attention at their doorstep,” he added.
He promised that in spite of all the challenges and negative news, there is still life in Nigeria and his clinic is ready to make a big difference. “We want to practise cardiology same level we practice in UK and US. We will not bring down the standard, we will keep the standard and build enabling environment because what discourages people from coming home is the lack of infrastructure. If we can create that, it will be easier to give them a soft landing”
Commenting on the facility Managing director of Daily Times, Yemi Ogunbiyi praised Nwosu for setting up a facility that could rub shoulder with another cardiovascular clinic in the world.
“Nigerians and especially those living in Lagos cannot thank Nwosu enough for his decision to have complementary private sector practice to cater to the health challenges they are on daily basis exposed to.”
David Ibemere