ABUJA – Two experts in the health sector on Monday expressed the need for Nigerians to adopt healthy lifestyle to check the growing cases of non-communicable diseases in the country.
The experts stated this at a public lecture organised by the Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy in Abuja to mark the 2014 World Physiotherapy Day.
They attributed the rise in cases of non-communicable diseases such as cancer and heart diseases to harmful lifestyles and behavioural patterns.
In his lecture, Dr Sam Ibeneme, former Head of Medical Rehabilitation Department, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, said Nigerians must adopt changes that would promote healthy living.
Ibeneme said that cases of cancer and related ailments in Nigerians would reduce if people do the right thing.
He said exercises such as swimming, walking and jogging among many other physical exercises could limit the probability of developing disease conditions that are not communicable.
Ibeneme advised government and other town-planning authorities to relocate industrial hubs from residential areas to check emission of harmful gases into the atmosphere.
He said recent studies conducted by experts in environmental health revealed that most non-communicable disease were caused by consumption of pollutants in the atmosphere.
According to him, there is a direct link between emission of harmful substances into the atmosphere and the prevalence of certain disease conditions.
He explained that engaging in physical exercise in areas polluted by harmful gases and chemicals could be inimical to the health of citizens and could also render such exercise counterproductive. [eap_ad_1] Ibeneme said Nigerians must be vigilant to note changes in their environment and adopt safe practices to guard against developing complicated health issues.
Speaking with newsmen, Prof Adetoye Oyeyemi of the Department of Public Health, University of Maiduguri, said physical exercise could help in preventing some of the health issues suffered by Nigeria.
He said physical exercise was a safe and affordable means of preventing and, even, treating disease conditions that could lead to death in humans.
The don said Nigerians must start adopting such practices to guard against cancer, heart related diseases and other ailments.
Physiotherapists, some experts and other stakeholders attended the forum held at the National Trauma Centre, Abuja. (NAN)
[eap_ad_4]
