I did my first consultation as a doctor and I was sad about the health-seeking behaviour of Nigerians. Patients won't come until the condition is so bad or after they have tried so many things. It was disappointing and heart breaking.
I later went on to my first night duty and I decided to visit the dialysis centre and it was not a very pleasing sight. A whole lot of terminal cases. Most of the cases there were due to chronic kidney disease secondary to either diabetes or hypertension. Although hypertension occurred more.
After visiting the dialysis center, it made me see the importance of living a healthy life.
The saddest thing I experienced was a 61-years old woman who was brought in for dialysis. She came in partially conscious with generalized body swelling. Everywhere was swollen and she started gasping for air. She was cold to touch and frail.
At a point, we had to put her on oxygen to help her breathe. The gasping reduced and I thought she was getting better.
After a while, her blood glucose drastically went down, we started running helter-skelter till we corrected her blood glucose.
After 2 hours later the blood glucose dropped again and we corrected it. This drops were beginning to get suspicious, so we became more vigilant and we increased our monitoring.
Then shortly after her blood pressure dropped to 70/40mmhg. We started another battle for her to survive. However, the centre was on strike and a lot of things were not available. We asked the patient's relatives to get things we could use to resuscitate.
Shortly after the woman passed on.
After this incident, I went to read her case note properly and discovered that she had diabetes that was poorly managed.
Why did I write this story?
A lot of people don't take their health seriously. I am guilty and a whole lot of people are.
I mean it is not so hard to live a healthy life.
It just requires discipline; a balanced diet instead of junks, a lot of water instead of soda.
Proper exercise like cardio and diet can solve most of the health issues people have. Conditions like hypertension and diabetes can be prevented when one exercises properly and eats a healthy diet.
Yes, some health issues are familial then proper health-seeking behaviour so it can be managed adequately should be your responsibility.
Health care is expensive, we owe it to ourselves to stay healthy
Finally, it is important to note that we are what we eat.
Thank you for reading.
