A Muslim group, Nasrul-Lahi-Fatih-Society, on Monday urged Nigerians to always check their blood pressure and be aware of their hypertension status to avoid untimely death.
Alhaja Sherifat Salaudeen, the Women Secretary, NASFAT, Akure Branch, made the appeal during a free medical checkup it organised for the Ijigba community in Akure South Local Government Area, Ondo State.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the free medical checkup was organised by the NASFAT to mark its 19th annual women’s week programme, which focused primarily on: “Hypertension”.
Salaudeen said: “This gesture became imperative to create awareness and sensitise people on how to manage hypertension in the society.
“People need to know their Blood Pressure in order to avoid early death.
“Hypertension is a general disease. We want people to know about it and not be afraid to check their status regularly in order to avoid untimely death.”
The Guest Lecturer, Dr Taiwo Oyelade, of the Emergency Department, State Specialist Hospital, Akure, said hypertension had killed many people due to ignorance.
Oyelade said people needed to know how to handle it before complications set in.
He explained that people could have hypertension from any age, be it 40 years to 45 years, or one year to two years old baby, depending on the type of hypertension.
He said: “Hypertension has no cure but it can be controlled and managed, if the sufferer takes his or her drugs as prescribed by the doctor.
“However, if it is not managed well it can result to heart failure, kidney failure, stroke, blindness and headaches.
“If, the sufferer takes to the doctor’s advice, such a person can live up to 120 years of normal life without any problem.”
He admonished people to shun junk food, excessive intake of salt, smoking and consumption of alcohol.
The medical practitioner urged Nigerians to engage in exercise, eat fruits and vegetables and go for regular medical checkup.
Also speaking, Chief Luyi Rotimi, the traditional ruler of Ijigba, appreciated the NASFAT for initiating the health talk and medical screening for his community.
Oba Rotimi, also a participant, said he had been hypertensive for 40 years, and that he adhered to the doctor’s advice and used his drugs as prescribed.
He said: “Forty years ago I was diagnosed as hypertensive, so, I was put on drugs and since then I have been using the drugs faithfully.
“People must not feel shy to check their status and if they prove to be hypertensive to take their medicines faithfully as prescribed.
“I believe that high blood pressure is not a death sentence, provided you manage it well and are prayerful.”
Two of the participants, Esther Ogunsuyi and Christiana Suleiman, appreciated NASFAT for the initiative and called on other religious groups to emulate the organisation.
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