By Damilare Adeleye
A medical expert has said that spending more time on mobile phones can increase the risk of hypertension adding that over 76.2 millions people in Nigeria are currently living with hypertension, a deadly medical condition.
Thr expert, Surgeon Sub-Lieutenant Lawal Majolagbe disclosed this during the Sparklight news weekly e-Discourse on Sunday.
Majolagbe while Quoting Nigerian Heart Foundation, explains that males below the age of 45 to 65 are more affected while females are more affected when they are beyond 65 years of age.
The medical officer in his lecture on the topic: “Hypertension the Silent Killer” explores causes of increased hypertension among the young adults.
The Sparklight E-discourse was established to raise awareness on substantial issues affecting people in Nigeria.
According to the expert, Hypertension could be managed if detected early but there has not been a cure yet.
Speaking further, he explained that hypertension is a medical condition in which blood vessels persistently raise pressure and significantly increase the risk of heart, brain, kidney and other diseases which may result in premature death.
The discussant added that blood pressure reading of 120mmhg/80mmhg is normal, while a reading of 150mmhg/100mmhg is high.
While highlighting major causes of blood pressure among young people in Nigeria, Dr Majolagbe highlighted bad economy, insecurity, abuse of hard drugs and alcoholic substance.
In his words, “Males are more affected below 45 years, both equaly affected between 45 to 65 years, while females are more affected beyond 65 years. In Nigeria about 76.2m people are living with hypertension. Bad economy, insecurity, abuse of hard drugs and alcoholic substance are top reasons why young people develop hypertension in Nigeria.”
He further stated that, “According to series of observation done by Nigerian Medical Association, on the average of about 16,000 naira is spent on treatment of hypertension monthly in Nigeria (about half of the minimum wage).”
He noted that spending more time on mobile phones can increase the risk of hypertension.
Some other risk factors highlighted during the lecture include older age, genetics, obesity, physically inactive, high-salt diet and drinking too much alcohol.
He also pointed out some symptoms of hypertension which are severe headaches, chest pain, dizziness, difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, anxiety, confusion, buzzing in the ears, nosebleeds and abnormal heart rhythm (palpitations).
Dr Majolagbe further stated that reducing hypertension can prevents heart attack, stroke and kidney damage, as well as other health problems.
He reiterated that hypertension can be contained by reducing stress, regular blood pressure check-ups and getting treatment of high blood pressure.
“Lifestyle modifications and healthy diet is key in treatment or management of high BP,” he added.
In a remark,Mr. Tosin Adesile, Managing Director of Sparklight News, expressed gratitude to the guest lecturer for his concise delivery of the topic, saying that participants would have got something tangible to learn and improve their well-being.
The lecture was moderator by Mr Ishola Ebenezer, a lecturer of Political Science at University of Lagos (UNILAG) while the E-Discourse was attend by Academics, medical experts,Engineers, Politicians, Business men and women amongst others.