Traffic increasing cases of strokes – Expert

A professor of medicine and Chief of Cardiology at the University of California, San Francisco, David Waters, has said that more Nigerians are dying and developing stroke because of the long hours they spend in traffic.

Waters spoke at the eighth edition of the Cardiovascular Summit entitled, “All About Stroke.” Pfizer Nigeria organised the conference in Lagos.

He stated that although hypertension, diabetes and high blood cholesterol were the known risk factors for stroke, evidence has shown that stressful situations tied to long hours in traffic is a contributory factor to the high incidence of stroke in the country.

Waters said, “The traffic situation in Nigeria contributes to the high incidence of stroke and this is because traffic has been linked to increase in blood pressure leading to hypertension, a condition that is the number one risk factor for stroke,”

Consultant Physician and Neurologist at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, Prof. Adesola Ogunniyi, described stroke as a medical emergency that requires urgent treatment.

Ogunniyi said, “Stroke occurs and its symptoms often appear suddenly. It occurs when the blood supply through the blood vessels to the brain is disrupted and the brain does not get enough oxygen or nutrients, which causes its cells to die, irrespective of the duration of the symptoms.”

Describing stroke as the second leading cause of disabilities in the country, Ogunniyi called for improved emergency care system to ensure that stroke patients can access care without running into financial difficulties.

To reduce deaths occasioned by stroke, the Medical Director, First Cardiology Consultants Lagos, Dr. Adeyemi Johnson, said that patients must pay attention to its symptoms and screen regularly for high blood pressure and also speak to their doctors.

Johnson said, “If patients speak to a doctor first without consulting ‘experts’ outside the hospital, they stand a better chance. But many people believe stroke is a spiritual attack. So, at the early stage they reject it, go to church to do all sorts of things and then report to the hospital after two or three days when the situation would have worsened.”

Pfizer Marketing Director for West and East Africa, Mr. Winston Ailemoh, stated that the summit which featured presentations and hands on training for medical doctors and caregivers had been identified as a Continuing Medical Education programme by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.

Ailemoh stated that by keeping health care professionals abreast of new trends in medicine, the organisation was contributing to improved patient care.

“The summit was designed to offer an educational platform for health care practitioners to enable them to have a robust discussion on latest trends in cardiovascular disease and its management. Pfizer recognises the rising incidence of cardiovascular diseases in Nigeria and is working with stakeholders through public enlightenment activities, free screenings, medical education and trainings for practitioners.”