A Consultant Cardiologist, Dr Raheem Moronkola, on Thursday, advised politicians to take care of their health to avoid heart-related conditions after the outcome of election results.
Moronkola, who works with the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos, gave the advice in Lagos.
He said that they should go for regular medical checkup, especially those above 50 years old, and ensure that they comply with their medications.
“There are a lot of health complications that can occur in politicians and people who are really interested in politics after the release of election results.
“Most of them may have heart-related issues they are nursing or treating such as hypertension, diabetes and so on, before elections.
“During elections period, some of them hardly sleep which can lead to decompensation of heart-related conditions by not complying with the drugs usage.
“It can also lead to emotional stress which may affect their heart and develop to stroke after hearing the results.
“We should also realise that it is not only those that lost the elections that can develop heart-related conditions.
“Those that won elections too can develop an attack due to sudden joy and happiness which can cause sudden heart failure,’’ Moronkola said.
He advised politicians to add health awareness and screening to their election campaign, especially for those above 40 years old.
“Adults above 40 years should try to know their blood pressure numbers in order to detect any irregularity.
“It is very important for them to have adequate knowledge of the dangers surrounding irregular medical check-up and what can lead to serious heart diseases.
“Those with family history of heart-related diseases should continue to go for constant screening to ensure prevention,’’ he said.
