Eulalee Thompson
Gini Ikwuezunma collapsed on the locker room floor shortly after completing a rigorous game of US college football.
"It was hot on that day and some players were collapsing because of the heat and lack of hydration. However, shortly after that I was diagnosed as having had a mild heart attack," Gini said.
Nigeria by birth, Gini was studying biology at the University of Georgia in the United States. He was only 21 years old at the time, slim built, physically fit and active. He did not expect this diagnosis; he was shocked.
"I was definitely not fat, I had no history of heart disease and I wasn't smoking," said Gini. "Also, that age (21 years old) is associated with immortality. I was at my prime and athletic. I was taken aback and started reassessing my life, reading and so on and I found that a lot of younger people don't pay attention to it (heart disease)."
While not commenting directly on this case, Dr Kenneth Gardner, exercise physiologist, said that in his experience, some young athletes who fall ill with heart disease may have had a minor congenital heart problem which is not apparent during routine heart checks and which gets worse over time. However, Gardner said that physical activity is an integral aspect of cardiac problem management.
Do regular ECG
Gini Ikwuezunma had a heart attack at age 21 and now dedicates his life to educating young people to take care of their hearts. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
As would be expected, Gini's life could not continue as usual after this overwhelming life-threatening experience. He not only started a period of reassessment of his life, as mentioned before, but he also began to channel some of his energy into informing young people, like himself, about heart disease. He started giving talks on wellness, nutrition, physical activity and regular heart checks.
"One of the things I focus on is to do regular electrocardiograms (ECGs). When (one) is at a certain level of physical activity, you need to pay attention to ECGs and other tests, especially marathon runners could not have any signs but collapse from heart attack. So, we need to do regular tests," he said.
It was during this period of voluntary work among young people that Gini, now 28 years old, made the link with Jamaica through Drs Madu and Baugh of the Heart Institute of the Caribbean in Kingston.
"I have been working for International Health Care Services, the parent company of the Heart Institute of the Caribbean. My role is to evaluate processes at the Heart Institute of the Caribbean and to see if best practices, perfected at our sister facilities in the United States, can be translated to other facilities currently in development in the Caribbean and in West Africa, he said.
Take seven steps
Gini consults with Dr Edwin Tulloch-Reid, director of clinical services at the Heart Institute of Jamaica. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
Pushing a message of good treatment for those already with heart disease and prevention for others, Gini and colleagues identify seven steps to good cardiovascular health:
1) Be spiritual. You can live seven to 14 years longer (University of Texas study), if you have good fellowship and conversations with others.
2) Take charge of your blood pressure, especially if you eat a lot of salty foods.
3) Control cholesterol. Monitor your HDL and LDL particularly because the foods we eat are different than the ones our grandparents used to eat. More people are eating out; it's convenient but can affect us later on.
4) Track blood sugar and obesity; maintain your ideal weight.
5) Enjoy regular exercising at least 30 minutes each day. Also enjoy a sensible diet, and get a good night's sleep; people who don't get a good night's sleep are more prone to ill health.
6) Don't smoke, it's one way to prevent early death.
7) Access good health care and take your medication.
eulalee.thompson@gleanerjm.com
