A specialist family physician and the Vice-President of the Association of Resident Doctors, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Dr Margaret Erhunmwunsee has said that cardiovascular-related disease is the number one killer in the world resulting in over 18.6m deaths annually across the globe.

She disclosed that COVID-19 has added to the burden of the disease as it has made over 520 million people living with the disease more vulnerable to developing severe forms of Coronavirus.

Dr Erhunmwunsee stated this while speaking with our correspondent on the World Heart Day celebration with the theme, “Harnessing the power of digital health to improve awareness, prevention and management of cardiovascular disease globally”.

She said,” Cardiovascular disease is the world’s number one killer resulting in 18.6million death a year. Covid-19 has added to the burden as it has made 520million people living with the cardiovascular disease more vulnerable to developing severe forms of the coronavirus”

She listed eight lifestyle changes which people should undertake to protect their hearts. They include, get active or moving, eat a healthy diet, kick the habit, manage stress and maintain a healthy weight.

Other lifestyle changes she said include, managing high BP, managing high cholesterol and Diabetes mellitus.

Speaking on the ongoing strike, the President of the Association of Resident Doctors, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Dr Ekemimi Udo, called on the federal government to meet the demands of Residents Doctors to enable them to return to work and save lives.

“Although Resident Doctors have been on strike for 59 days, we decided to come out and celebrate the World Heart Day. I want to use this opportunity to call on the federal government to meet our demands so that we can return to work.

“A lot of people are suffering in the society and we just want to call on the federal government to meet our demands, so that we can return to work and save the lives of patients. As soon as the federal government does the needful we will return to work” Udo said.

source: https://punchng.com/world-heart-day-cardiovascular-disease-remains-worlds-number-one-killer-expert/