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Odia Sensitises Varsity Community On Heart Care
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- Published: 19 May 2021
By Otikor Samuel
Professor Osaretin Odia of the Department of Internal Medicine, College of Health Sciences, has outlined some early warning signs and symptoms of an ailing heart. He warned individuals to be wary of those signs if they want the heart to function optimally. Professor Odia gave the warning while delivering the 19th Valedictory Lecture entitled: When the Heart Says Goodbye at the Ebitimi Banigo Auditorium on Tuesday, April 27, 2021. “The heart beats from birth to death. It beats continuously about 72 times per minute in most adults. After pumping blood, the heart relaxes allowing blood to enter the heart for the next pumping action,” the Professor of Medicine and Cardiology explained. On how the heart could say goodbye, the Valedictorian revealed that “the heart gives warnings by way of signs and symptoms when its structures and functions are impaired or affected by diseases or disorders.” Some of the early warning features, according to him, are easy fatigability, cough productive of frothy sputum, swelling of the ankles, swelling of the abdomen, difficulty in breathing on exertion or at rest, chest pain and irregular pulse or heartbeat.
Reacting to the Lecture, the Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Stephen Okodudu, commended the Valedictorian for sustaining the awareness on the strategic place of the heart to human life. He showered praises on Professor Odia for serving the University meritoriously and contributing to its growth.
“In the presence of these symptoms and signs, one is advised to see a doctor. The doctor would, in all probability, advise one to see a cardiologist. The doctor/cardiologist would undertake some or all the following in order to understand the nature of the disease,” he said. Professor Odia, who served as Provost, College of Health Sciences, listed establishment of the Port Harcourt Medical Journal, Centre for Medical Research and Training (CENMERT), commencement of Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy programmes as some of his modest contributions to the growth of the College under his watch Reacting to the Lecture, the Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Stephen Okodudu, commended the Valedictorian for sustaining the awareness on the strategic place of the heart to human life. He showered praises on Professor Odia for serving the University meritoriously and contributing to its growth.
