BIG STOMACH,BIG BOTTOM

Big stomachs, big bottoms The royal wobbliness Laden with fat and water Around the midriff Obscuring the vision A sorry sight for sure But even more so A risk for stroke And heart attack to boot If care is not taken A sorry state for sure You know about stroke Or should know by now Poorly treated in Lagos, Abuja and Kano too! A sorry nation for sure Do what you can Rid the tyres around you Get up and burn the fat Through dance exercise, Walk and run A wobbly sight for sure If 40 or more Then you need this An excuse not necessary For truly life begins at 40 So start living now And live long for sure! I am stroke: Know me! A stroke is a “brain attack” and can happen to anyone at any time. It occurs when blood flow to an area of brain is cut off. When this happens, brain cells are deprived of oxygen and begin to die. When brain cells die during a stroke, abilities controlled by that area of the brain such as memory and muscle power are lost. Common stroke symptoms include sudden weakness of the face, arm, or leg; sudden confusion; trouble speaking or understanding speech; sudden trouble walking or seeing; loss of balance; and sudden, severe headache. The ability to recognise these symptoms and seek medical attention immediately is critical to surviving a stroke and minimising long-term disability. Stroke affects people of all ages, but several underlying factors that put individuals at higher risk include high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol levels, obesity, tobacco use and physical inactivity. Understanding the risks involved with certain lifestyle choices and making healthier choices can often help reduce a person’s risk of stroke. Life style changes There are issues surrounding obesity and sedentary life styles you need to be aware of. Large lumps of fat around the middle, bottom and stomach areas can predispose to strokes and heart attacks. An increase in weight makes it harder for the heart to pump blood round the body and the stress can cause hypertension. Hypertension is the major cause of strokes in Nigeria. Therefore, a little bit of exercise can go a long way to preventing strokes for you and the family? Many people say, ‘it’s not my portion’, but they eat other people’s portions. Then, when stroke strikes, it becomes other people’s problem. The solution is easy. You need to lose the fat through exercise, walking or running too. Your friends may laugh at you and wonder why you are out walking. But, you know you want to live long: without paralysis, unable to speak and being fed through a tube. You do not want to be a burden on the family and a drain on the resources of the nation! World Stroke Day World Stroke Day is a time to raise awareness for the devastating impact, causes, and symptoms of stroke. Nigerians need to understand that stroke is treatable and preventable, as long as we arm them with the proper diagnostic tools and health information. Everyone must know the root causes of stroke such as high blood pressure and diabetes. High blood pressure or hypertension is the biggest underlying cause of stroke in Nigeria. Many people do not know they have high blood pressure because they have not checked. We need to change this. Others who have been diagnosed, stop taking medications for various reasons. Some because their pastor said they were cured at the last retreat! World Stroke Day in Abuja Therefore, please join us in recognising October 29 as World Stroke Day in order to continue to educate Nigerians about stroke symptoms, prevention, and treatment. This year, the Federal Ministry of Health actively supports the event. It is also part of the Nigeria Medical Association Physicians’ week. There will be a dance exercise programme during the event and more information on stroke for all. If you could, please pop into Transcorp Hilton on the day and be part of our success story this year. To sponsor or attend the events, please call Florence on 08189999902. Join us to fight stroke.