Tackling the recent trends of mortality in our society today

The recent spike in mortality rate is becoming worrisome. Some of this deaths results from either known or unknown underlying medical conditions or lifestyle practices.

I will advice on the following preventive practices

1. Go for your blood pressure checks: Some are walking corpse. I remembered in the year 2020 when I conducted a research on high blood pressure in a community in Edo state. My findings was so alarming (15% had normal blood pressure, 28% are pre-hypertensive, 34% are at stage 1 of hypertension and 25% are at stage 2 of hypertension). This was unknown to larger percentage of the people recruited in this research that, they are at one stage or the other of hypertension.

Many are going about and unknown to them they are already at one stages of hypertension and the other.

2. Go for blood glucose levels test: Some of the people too unknown to them are at one stages of diabetes due to accumulation of sugar level in their blood. This kills gradually before the final termination of lives set in. It usually destroys the critical organs of the body before it finally collapse.

3. Reduce sugar and salt intake: Do you know what? By 2030 according to research, people who will be living with non-communicable diseases like stroke, diabetes, hypertension will be doubles in the developing countries like Nigeria than the developed countries.

The embracement of western culture and lifestyles is gradually killing us. We don't have all it takes in terms of healthcare services and system to take care of health challenges that may arises from this practices.

The rate we consume sugar and salt products this days is worrisome and killing. Reduce it before it harms or kills you.

4. Increase physical activities: Exercise is gradually facing out of our community today. Some sees exercises of all forms as stress. Anywhere you find yourself, you can exercise your body to keep it healthy and fit.

Exercise are not meant only for reducing weight, it helps in promoting optimal functioning of the body. You can dance, do house chores, jog, brisk walk, swim. They are all forms of exercise

5. Reduce fatty and meat intakes: If you're 40years and above, reduce the intake of meat of all sort and fatty diets. It one of the leading causes of cardiovascular health issues in the long run. Not until the cup of red oil or vegetable oil started overflowing on your cookings before you know that you've actually cooked nice delicacies like vegetables soups as many do. This is so harmful. You will go to some parties or cafeterias and you will see how people and consuming large bowl of meat in front of them with beer, Alomo bitters, pelebe and the likes as they're being called. They do more harm to your body than good.

6. Rest: Don't work your self out in the name of struggling to make money, money and money. Take time to rest so as to rejuvenate and revitalise your body systems. Sleep at least 6-7hours. If you don't take time to rest and when the money comes, you may not have the good health to enjoy it. 

7. Take enough water: Some of us don't practice this lifestyle. Taking enough water helps in flushing out toxic substances inside our body. Take at least 6-8cups daily for a month and see how your body will glows and how your systems will function.

8. Eating fruits and vegetables: This helps in detoxification of body systems, releasing of phytochemicals that helps in fighting against diseases and strengthening immune systems. Complementing your food with vegetables and fruits will help in providing the necessary vitamins and promotes digestions.

9. Eat dinner early: Eating your dinner early helps to make the food digest as early as possible. Eating late all the time is not the best. You can take light food if you know you're already late like 8-9pm at night. Not that you will heap a large bowl of pupuru, eba or amala in front of you by 8-9-10pm with another assorted recipes of meats and you'll say in your mind that you're enjoying. Sir/Ma, you're killing yourself gradually.

10. Reduce alcohol, smoking and drink intakes: I did an experiment one day. I opened a can of beer and left it somewhere for some days and after I went there, it starts accumulating and draws like a fat in animal. The end products of all these drinks is fat. Reducing all these intakes of aforementioned things will help to increases your health.

By: Omoge Adeyemi, Founder and Health Educator, 3Ps Health Initiative International, Nigeria.

(BSc Public Health (Nigeria), PgCert Public Health (UK), MPH in Disasters (Spain), MPH Epidemiology and Research (Cyprus), MBA Hospital Administration (India), MBA in Project and Human Resources Management (Germany), PhD Public and Community Health (in view)

#Prevention is cheaper and better than cure

#Public health is everybody concern

#Health is wealth

#Health is life