Mr Ibu
Sodiq Ojuroungbe
Popular Nollywood actor and comedian, John Okafor, popularly known as Mr Ibu, passed on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Evercare Hospital in Lagos.
The 62-year-old veteran actor, who was loved for his comic roles in movies and skits, reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest.
The thespian had in October 2023, revealed that he was suffering from an ailment suspected to be diabetes and claimed to have been struck by the problem while on a movie set with colleagues.
Ibu, who hails from Umunekwu in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State was born on October 17, 1961, had been ill for quite a while, and had one of his legs amputated not long ago, to keep him alive.
According to his family, the amputation became necessary because of an infection of the arteries at the ankle that was not detected early enough.
According to the American Heart Association, most cardiac arrests occur when a diseased heart’s electrical system malfunctions.
This malfunction, the body says causes an abnormal heart rhythm such as ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. Some cardiac arrests are also caused by extreme slowing of the heart’s rate (bradycardia).
Based on statistics from the World Health Organisation, Cardiovascular Diseases are the foremost cause of death globally, taking an estimated 17.9 million lives each year.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, during an event to commemorate the 2023 World Heart Day in Abuja, said raised the alarm over the increasing number of deaths from Cardiovascular Diseases that include cardiac arrest, hypertension, heart failure, and stroke in the country.
He stated, “The 2018 WHO country profiles show that NCDs accounted for 29 per cent of all deaths in Nigeria with CVDs responsible for 11 per cent of all the NCD deaths,” he said.
“The country profile also shows that the risk of dying prematurely from NCDs in Nigeria is 22 per cent. Premature mortality in this instance is defined as death occurring between ages 30 and 70 years from any of the common NCDs.”
Meanwhile, here are important things people need to know about cardiac arrest which include:
Cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest is a severe health issue that can cause death or disability.
It may be the result of a prior heart attack or has another cause entirely. A heart that is scarred or enlarged from any cause is prone to developing life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias.
Damage to the heart muscle can be the result of high blood pressure, heart valve disease or other causes.
Certain heart drugs have the potential to trigger rhythms that result in abrupt cardiac arrest.
Adrenaline released during intense physical activity can trigger sudden cardiac arrest when these abnormalities are present.
Certain heart conditions and health factors can increase your risk of cardiac arrest.
Other risk factors that can cause cardiac arrest include smoking, a sedentary lifestyle, high blood pressure, obesity, a family history of heart disease, a history of a previous heart attack, and substance abuse, among others.
Being dizzy, experiencing shortness of breath, and feeling fatigued or weak, could be signs of cardiac arrest.
Chest pain, no pulse, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, or collapse are serious symptoms of cardiac arrest that must be attended to immediately.
People experiencing symptoms of cardiac arrest should seek emergency health assistance immediately. It can be fatal, hence, immediate response and treatment can save a life.
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