Sudden deaths: Be careful about sports, emotional events, NCS warn Nigerians

The Nigerian Cardiac Society (NCS) has warned Nigerians to be very vigilant about their cardiovascular health and avoid sports and other emotional events that can trigger arrhythmias, heart attacks and stroke in those with underlying heart conditions.

This is coming as a result of the several reported cases of sudden deaths among Nigerians both at home and abroad directly and indirectly linked with the surge of emotions associated with the Nigeria- South Africa Match during the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON 2023) competition holding in Cote d’Ivoire.

NCS President, Prof. Augustine Odili said: “Several reports have documented a very high prevalence of many cardiovascular risk factors including obesity, metabolic syndrome, smoking Including passive smoking, drug abuse – recreational drug use, alcohol intake, and physical inactivity among Nigerians. The risk of sudden death varies with the cardiovascular risk factor, the severity of the disease, genetics, and other precipitating factors among which may be acute stressful reactions to which the link with these recent deaths can be associated.”

“It must be emphasized that many of these cardiovascular risk factors are without symptoms and signs. Therefore, screening is the only effective mechanism for early identification and appropriate control and prevention of sudden death among the populace.”

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He said the untimely deaths of the Nigerians are a stark reminder that they must be vigilant about their cardiovascular health.

“Sports and other emotional events can trigger arrhythmias, heart attacks, and strokes in those with underlying heart conditions.”

“While the society cannot authoritatively confirm the exact cause of death in these situations without prejudice, we owe it a duty to call the attention of Nigerians to the very possibility that sudden death can often occur either in the presence or absence of risk factors many of which are highly prevalent among Nigerians and are also poorly controlled.