By Our Reporter
Dr. Akitoye Olumide, Consultant Anesthetist from the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital has attributed the leading cause of cardiac arrests to high consumption of fatty foods which deposit cholesterol in the vessels carrying blood to the heart.
Olumide disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Enugu during the training of 24 medical doctors from the South-East on basic life support and pediatrics advance life support skills.
“Incidences of cardiac arrests leading to several deaths are on the increase in adults because our lifestyles are fast approaching that of the Western countries but with low awareness,” he said.
The consultant mentioned the symptoms of cardiac arrest to include but not limited to chest pain towards the left and chest pain radiating to the shoulder.
“When some people notice this pain, especially, chest pain radiating to the shoulder, all they do is to take pain relief instead of going to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment,’ he said.
He said that it was sad that most Nigerians had abandoned their local delicacies in preference to fast foods and others.
“These are the things that cause cardiac arrest over time. As our lifestyle is going Western, we should also engage in exercise so as to burn the fats,” he said.
He said that the three-day training became necessary following high incidences of cardiac arrests which had occasioned loss of lives across the country.
He said that the programme organised by the Nigerian Surgical, Obstetrics, Anesthetic and Pediatrics Group with support from Smiletrain International, would equip the participants with the knowledge to resuscitate victims.
He also said that the programme would increase the skills of health professionals in the management of emergencies, especially, cardiac arrests in adults and infants.
“There is no joy doing a beautiful surgery and having a dead patient because you may be in the theatre operating and your patient will suddenly get cardiac arrest,” he said.
The instructor said that the training would improve the knowledge of surgeons, pediatricians and obstetricians in the management of cardiac arrests and other emergencies in the pediatrics age group.
Olumide said that the training was being replicated in all six regions of the country were a total of 144 medical professionals would be trained.
“We will later extend the awareness to other health workers, including nurses. They will then step the awareness down to non-medical practitioners in our communities.
“The plan is to ensure that every household in the country has the knowledge and can serve as first responders during cardiac arrests,” Olumide said.
