A medical expert, Prof. Arthur Onwuchekwa, has said stroke which is caused as a result of hypertension could be preventable if an individual maintains a healthy lifestyle.
Onwuchekwa, who is a lecturer in the department of Medicine, University of Port Harcourt made this known during the 135th Inaugural Lecture of the institution, tagged: ‘A Preventable Disaster Waiting to Happen.’
According to him, too much salt intake, excessive alcohol and poor exercise are risk factors that caused hypertension, leading to stroke, saying, “Salt and alcohol damage the blood vessels and cell.”
He however expressed worries over the rise in the cases of hypertension and stroke in the country, stressing that Nigerians should maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Onwuchekwa said: “The prevalence of stroke is high in Nigeria and no age, race or class is spared. There are medical conditions that can be controlled in order to reduce stroke. Hypertension is the commonest cause of stroke. If we reduce hypertension by 10 percent, the mass effect in reduction of stroke will be heart gladdening.”