The Nigerian Cardiac Society, on Saturday, cautioned Nigerians to avoid getting overly excited during games and emotional events, while advising taking breaks if needed.
The warning is coming ahead of the final match of the ongoing African Cup of Nations between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and their Cote D’Ivoire counterpart.
The society in a statement in Ilorin, Kwara State on Saturday jointly signed by Professor Augustine Odili, the National President, Professor Chizindu Alinkor and Abiodun Akintunde, Secretary-General and Publicity Secretary of the society respectively commiserated with the families of those whose death was linked to the semi-final match played on Wednesday.
The society, however, warned that sports and other emotional events can trigger arrhythmias, heart attacks, and strokes in those with underlying heart conditions.
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“The society notes with utmost concern the several reported cases of sudden deaths among Nigerians both at home and abroad directly or indirectly.
“We wish to commiserate with the immediate families of the deceased and the country at large and pray for the repose of the souls of the deceased.
“The reported deaths of at least four individuals occurring during the match leaves much to be desired on the cardiovascular health of Nigerians,” the statement read.
The experts explained that many risk factors are prevalent among Nigerians and are also poorly controlled.
They described sudden death as a natural, unexpected fatal event occurring within one hour from the onset of symptoms, in a healthy subject, or in one whose disease was not so severe to predict such an abrupt outcome.
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“Sudden cardiac death can be defined as death resulting from abrupt loss of cardiac function with or without previous heart disease unexpected within one hour of onset of symptoms.
“About 50 per cent of all deaths from heart diseases are sudden regardless of the aetiology. deaths
“It has also been shown that 89 per cent of all sudden cardiac deaths occur outside the hospital and less than 40 per cent are witnessed,” they said.
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