Omiete Blessing
Olympus Marino Deck of the Association of Seadogs (NAS), Pyrates Confraternity has sensitised residents of Rivers State on the need to care for their health, especially those with diabetes mellitus.
The humanitarian group sensitised the residents during a programme target ‘Street Pulse Series’, held in Port Harcourt.
In his lecture on diabetes mellitus, Dr Ibitrokoemi Korubo said is the increase of sugar content in the body due to insulin impairment.
He enumerated the risk factors as frequent urination, frequent tasty, frequent hunger, kidney failure, frequent vaginal discharge in female, others.
Dr Korubo advised that the strategies to halting diabetes mellitus is by getting involved in the various activities such as; “frequent screening, medical nutrition therapy (not eating carbohydrates at night and morning), avoid injury on the leg, exercise, information, surveillance, maintaining body weight and drugs”.
One of the panelists at the programme, Prof MacClean Akpan, who spoke on how to manage crisis of high blood pressure, described HBP as a condition rather than an illness, explaining that the condition is associated to age.
Dr Akpan, a Consultant Physician and Cardiologist the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) listed other risk factors such as; “diet, lifestyle, obesity, smoking, stress, alcoholic consumption”, adding that the risk factors can be regulated.
Dr Chinweowa Ohaka a consultant gynaecologist who spoke on the burden of prostate gland enlargement, noted the increasing cases of the disease.
Dr Ohaka described prostate gland as a small walnut-organ that is part of the male reproductive system that functions in seminal fluid production, sperm protection and regulation of urine flow.
He divided the enlargement into Cancerous (stage I, II, III and IV) and Non Cancerous, and highlighted the risk factors as associated to age (≥50), obesity, lifestyle (abstinence from sex for a long period).
He added that the protective factor involves early detection and diagnosis.
Another panelist, a University Don Prof Dasetima Altraide in his lecture, guided against cosmetic bleaching of the melanin (skin color) with hydroquinone, said it induces high blood pressure.
Agreeing with Prof Altraide’s advise, Dr Amadi-wali, Owhorchukwu cited a case study of the consumption of a herbal extract (Coco Samba) with an undeclared amount of Sildenifil which he said resulted to a blood pressure disorder. He urged that people should moderately consume such substance.
The group however, advised that preventing and managing chronic illnesses like diabetes mellitus, prostate enlargement, and hypertension in a harsh economy requires a proactive, resourceful approach.
They advised that “For those already living with these conditions, adherence to prescribed treatments, seeking cost-effective healthcare options, and leveraging community or government support programs can help mitigate the financial and health burdens”.