The Commander, 161 Nigeria Air Force Hospital Makurdi, Group Cpt. Ifeanyi Ifeorah, has enjoined retired Air Force personnel to embrace a healthy lifestyle to prevent sudden death from cardiac arrest.

Ifeorah, a Consultant Pediatrician, said this during a presentation at a seminar to commemorate the 2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Day on Saturday in Makurdi.

According to him, sudden cardiac arrest account for seven million deaths globally per year and men have a higher proportion of the deaths, which represents a ratio of 3:1.

“This ratio is reflective of the higher incidence of obstructive coronary artery disease.

“This disease is most prevalence in people from ages 45-75 years of age and lifestyle choices, remain evident as a major risk factor to sudden cardiac deaths,”he said.

Ifeorah listed some harmful dietary choices to include consumption of refined sugar, unhealthy fats, high salt intake, alcohol intake, cigarette smoking and substance abuse.

He, however, urged  the veterans to eat healthy foods, engage in regular exercise and periodic medical checks to prevent cardiac arrest.

He appealed to the Nigerian Air Force to take the lead in providing specialised intervention centres in selected states in the country to tackle cases of sudden cardiac arrest.

Earlier in his presentation, Air Cdr Adebanjo Adeosun, Command Administration Officer, Tactical Air Command (TAC) Headquarters, charged Air Force personnel to prepare ahead of   their retirement.

Adeosun said that retirement was inevitable, hence the need for personnel to plan ahead of time.

“Retirement is not a curse or handiwork of the enemies but a natural consequence of life ”he said.

Adeosun, however, advised them to evaluate investment opportunities carefully before they venture into it inorder to avoid being scammed.

On his part,  the Air Officer Commanding (AOC), AVM Francis Edosa, commended the Chief of the Air staff for planning the medical outreach and seminar for the veterans.

He said the seminar had brought to the fore health issues affecting veterans and assured that solutions would be proffered to the issues.