The Medical Director of Ashamby Hospital Moniya, Dr Muhammed Odedeji Ibadan, Oyo State, has advised Nigerians against sedentary lifestyle to maintain a good heart.

Mr Odedeji gave the advice during an interview in Ibadan on Wednesday.

He also urged people to avoid excessive smoking, alcohol consumption, drug abuse and lack of regular exercise.

Mr Odedeji said, “Always engage in regular exercise, don’t smoke cigarettes and reduce your alcohol intake, if you must take it. People should stay away from drug abuse and eat healthy; there’s a need for regular medical (heart) check-up, it helps in early detection of health challenges. Regular chest X-ray for the heart is important. People should also check their blood pressure regularly. The heart is the organ that pumps blood. Anything that goes wrong with the heart will affect many other organs in the body. Any problem with the artery can be a problem to the heart or any other part of the body’.’’

According to him, any lifestyle that causes fat to accumulate in the body can block the artery, and may lead to reduction in blood supply to the heart.

He added that reduction in the amount of blood supply to the heart leads to shortage of blood to a particular part of the body which could cause pain.

“It can also result in kidney or liver failure and brain malfunctioning amongst other health issues. Smoking cigarettes, taking of alcohol, and lack of proper exercise can cause cardiac problems. So, people should be careful with their lifestyles,” Mr Odedeji stated.

(NAN)