Health
Why You Need to Move More in Your Day
Thrombosis, more commonly known as blood clotting, is a dangerous and life-threatening condition. Globally, one in four people die from conditions caused by thrombosis, making it a leading cause of death worldwide.
Concerningly, with technological advances and shifting work patterns, many of us lead increasingly sedentary lifestyles, increasing our risk of thrombosis. Do you sit at a desk for work or enjoy sitting watching TV in the evening? You could be at high risk.
This is because when we sit for long periods of time, it enables pooling of blood in the veins, leading to clot formation, known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). These clots can then break off and travel to other parts of the body, causing harmful effects. For example, if a clot travels to the lungs it leads to a potentially deadly condition called pulmonary embolism (PE).
In light of this risk, World Thrombosis Day’s (WTD) theme this year is “Move Against Thrombosis”. WTD aims to raise awareness about the risks of thrombosis and encourage and empower people to take preventative action against it.
Signs you’re not moving enough
So how can you know if you are not moving enough and subsequently are at risk of thrombosis?
Globally, one in four adults do not meet recommended levels of physical activity. The goal of 10,000 steps is widely circulated, but even taking 7,000 steps a day can have a statistically significant positive impact on health, says Dr Helen Okoye, a leading thrombosis specialist who is part of the WTD campaign steering committee. If you’re moving less than this, it is important to walk more! Steps can be tracked and monitored on most smartphones and watches.
But crucially, even when living a generally active life, time spent sedentary poses a risk to health. WHO states that we should limit the amount of time spent being sedentary. Replacing sedentary time with physical activity of any intensity (including light intensity) provides health benefits.
To monitor this, sitting down for too long has physical effects on the body that can also be used as tell-tale signals to move more. If you spend long periods of time sitting in front of a screen, you may notice some of the following symptoms:
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Difficulty sleeping
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Low energy
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Poor posture
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Weight gain
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Lack of focus
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Constipation
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Tight hips and hamstrings
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Stiff neck and shoulders
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Back pain
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it is vital to take action to increase your movement. According to Dr Okoye, we all need to make a conscious effort to build movement into our everyday lives. “Make it a daily habit to move more,” says Dr Okoye. “The less you keep your body in a static position throughout the day, the better your chances for living a healthy life.”
Reducing your risk of thrombosis does not require a drastic life overhaul; a few simple changes can increase your chances of a healthy life.
Five ways to move more
Here are five easy ways to break up your time sitting still. Get your friends involved and try to make one or all of these a regular habit in your day-to-day life.
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Take a break, says Dr Okoye. “Schedule a break in your day. Whether that’s a few minutes outside, a chat with a colleague, or a walk to get a snack or coffee, taking the time to get up and move will reduce your risk of thrombosis. It’s all the little movements we do in the day that matter. The trick is to build movement into every part of your life,” she advises.
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Walk more. To reach that 7,000 steps goal, there are many ways to implement subtle changes and increase the amount you walk. These include switching to walking meetings and phone calls, taking the stairs, parking a block away from a shop you are going to, and scheduling a 15 – 30 minute walk every day.
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Stretch more. Why not multi-task to make good use of standing breaks or time watching TV? Exercising or stretching, even for a short time, is a simple healthy habit to introduce. There are brief five-minute yoga or stretching videos on YouTube that can be an effective way to release stress and muscle tension from your body. Or you could set yourself a challenge; for example, to do five lunges every hour.
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Dance it out. Get some colleagues or friends together to shake it out and have a dance break! Maybe a silly one, but definitely a good way to have a laugh, boost positive energy and reduce the risk of thrombosis.
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Stand more. Take a five-minute standing break for every hour that you sit down, advises Dr Okoye. “During your work week, try to stay in motion whenever possible. Stand up while you’re talking on the phone or if a colleague stops at your desk for a chat, and go for a walk during lunchtime,” she concludes.
By making these changes a daily habit, not only will you reduce your chances of thrombosis, but it can also have a positive impact on your mental and physical health. Movement releases endorphins, which boost energy levels, and serotonin, which uplifts mood.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) says the number of Nigerians enrolled in health insurance has risen to more than 22 million.
The Director-General of NHIA, Mr Kelechi Ohiri, said this resulted from the implementation of the mandatory health insurance, which has gained momentum nationwide.
He said this on Wednesday at the Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Association of Insurance and Pension Editors (NAIPE) in Lagos.
Mr Ohiri said enrolment had increased to 22.03 million, representing a 35 per cent year-on-year growth, attributing this to stronger collaboration with state social health insurance agencies, ministries, departments and agencies, organised labour, employers, the private sector, and the gradual implementation of the mandatory health insurance provisions of the NHIA Act.
He said that the country had moved beyond policy formulation to delivering measurable improvements in healthcare access, service quality and consumer protection in line with the federal government’s health sector reform agenda.
According to him, Nigeria already has the necessary policies and legislation to achieve Universal Health Coverage, positing that the key challenge was effective implementation.
“The decisive variable is now implementation- consistent, rigorous and accountable execution that converts political commitment into healthcare access for real Nigerians,” he said.
Mr Ohiri said that the transition from the former National Health Insurance Scheme to the NHIA had strengthened regulation, consumer protection, accountability and strategic purchasing, while providing the legal and operational framework for achieving Universal Health Coverage.
He added that improving the experience of enrollees remained central to the Authority’s reform agenda.
According to him, NHIA has strengthened its complaints management system, introduced faster resolution timelines, and intensified compliance monitoring of Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) and healthcare providers.
He further added that NHIA had sanctioned facilities that failed to meet the required standards, adding that his organisation had resolved 3,878 complaints, representing an 87 per cent resolution rate, while 95 per cent of the cases were concluded within prescribed timelines.
Mr Ohiri noted that more than N14.2 million had been refunded to enrollees, while non-compliant healthcare facilities had been sanctioned.
He said NHIA had also introduced service standards, including a one-hour treatment commencement target for enrollees requiring urgent care, to improve access to timely and quality healthcare services.
The NHIA boss further disclosed that capitation payments to healthcare providers had been increased by 93 per cent.
He said fee-for-service reimbursements rose by 378 per cent to enable providers to invest more in personnel, equipment and infrastructure.
According to him, 7,592 healthcare facilities have been assessed under the SafeCare quality framework as part of efforts to institutionalise continuous quality improvement across the country.
Mr Ohiri also highlighted interventions targeted at vulnerable groups, including support for more than 48,500 pregnant women, expanded maternal and newborn healthcare services, the Vulnerable Group Fund, and improved access to healthcare for pensioners and retirees.
He said Universal Health Coverage could only be achieved if every Nigerian, regardless of income or location, had access to quality healthcare services.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The new one-hour authorisation response time ultimatum policy introduced by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has received the full backing of SUNU Health Nigeria Limited.
This policy was introduced by the agency to ensure enrollees get prompt approval codes to access care.
Healthcare service providers have been urged to report any Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO) that violates this initiative through an email, with the HMO in copy and a timestamp attached as evidence of the request. They may proceed to offer services to enrollees thereafter.
Speaking at the company’s second-quarter Providers’ Forum for the Lagos-Ogun region in Lagos recently, the chief executive of SUNU Health, Dr Moyosore Olomola, expressed optimism that this policy would improve healthcare delivery in the country, especially for enrollees, who crave quality service.
At the event themed Improving Quality and Access to Care Through Stronger Provider Network, and held at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) in Yaba, Lagos, Mr Olomola reaffirmed the HMO’s commitment to operating within legal and operational frameworks to guarantee adequate care for enrollees.
“Access to care and quality of care remain key priorities in our healthcare systems. We know quite well that deliberate collaboration, strategic partnerships, and a shared commitment to excellence are required to achieve these priorities.
“A strong provider network is doubtless the backbone of any effective healthcare system. It ensures that our mutual enrollees receive the right care, at the right time, in the right place, and at the right price,” Mr Olomola, represented at the programme by the organisation’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), Dr Faith Nwachi, stated.
He further assured that SUNU Health would strictly adhere to the one-hour authorisation limit, stressing that this aligns seamlessly with one of the organisation’s core values—promptness and its corporate slogan, Humanity is the centre of our initiatives.
In a bid to further improve access and quality of care, SUNU Health also demonstrated its new operational software and Mobile app, aptly named SUNU Legacy.
Also speaking at the event, the NHIA Lagos State Coordinator (Ikeja), Dr Bethuel-Kasimu Abraham, noted that the forum’s expected outcome is to significantly reduce delays in accessing medical care.
Other key expectations include ensuring continuity of care, improving patient outcomes, and strengthening accountability among HMOs.
Addressing specific pain points faced by enrollees, the NHIA Ogun State Coordinator, Mr Dare Adefeso, acknowledged that the agency had received complaints regarding out-of-stock drugs and the discrimination of enrollees by certain providers.
He affirmed that the NHIA is actively addressing these issues, stressing that moving forward, every facility must ensure enrollees are properly catered to regardless of their status, provided they have an active health insurance plan.
Corroborating the long-standing legacy of SUNU Health, the Ogun State Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mrs Aishat Tiamiyu, shared that her agency is responsible for public information dissemination and has been enrolled with SUNU Health for over 25 years.
Commending the HMO’s stellar service over two decades, she called for the immediate enrollment of new NOA staff into the scheme.
The Providers’ Forum remains one of the strategic channels employed by SUNU Health to consistently engage healthcare providers, understand their operational challenges, introduce new software updates, and solidify partnerships aimed at fostering premium healthcare delivery across Nigeria.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has announced the recall of a sexual enhancement product known as WAP Sensual Enhancement Capsules.
In a statement on Monday, the Nigerian agency disclosed that the recall is due to “undeclared pharmaceutical ingredients” in the product, whose country of origin is unknown, but is marketed and distributed online in the US through eBay.
It was emphasised that the recall is being “voluntarily” made by the manufacturer, Best Supplements Best Prices Company.
The detection of the undeclared pharmaceutical ingredients was made by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Laboratory analysis by the US FDA revealed that the product contained undeclared sildenafil, tadalafil, and flibanserin, which were not mentioned on the product label. Such substances may include phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors or related compounds commonly used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, the statement by NAFDAC stated.
Sildenafil and tadalafil are ingredients in FDA-approved prescription drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction.
It was noted that these undeclared ingredients may interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs, such as nitroglycerin, and may lower blood pressure to dangerous levels. Consumers with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart disease often take nitrates.
Flibanserin is the active ingredient in an FDA-approved prescription drug used to treat low sexual desire in women. Flibanserin can cause drowsiness, sedation, dangerously low blood pressure, and fainting, especially when combined with alcohol.
Consumers have been encouraged to report compromised products (medicines or medical devices) to the nearest NAFDAC office, call 0800-162-3322, or send an email to sf******@********ov.ng.
