Today is World Heart Day! Between the heart and the brain.




 September 29 of every year is celebrated as World Heart Day. 

You can survive with half your brain but you cannot survive with half your heart.

There exists a beautiful relationship between neurologists and the heart. The brain and heart need each other. A diseased heart has a lot of consequences for the brain and other components of the neuro-axis. Hence comprehensive neurological care also entails the maintenance of optimal heart and other cardiovascular functions.

The University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu is the principal public tertiary health institution in Nigeria for the management of heart diseases, both medically and surgically (including open heart surgeries). Despite flagging government support, a lot of excellent work still goes on there. Neurologists contribute to the care and follow-up of heart disease patients in multiple ways.

There are several neurological manifestations/complications of heart disease and of its treatment (including cardiac surgery). These can affect both the central and the peripheral nervous systems. Most times the pathologic injury derives from focal or multifocal infarctions. 

Better intervention in cardiac arrest syndromes using advanced CPR protocols has led to greater frequency in the management of post-arrest neurological sequelae worldwide, including Nigeria. 

Neurological syndromes and complications following heart disease and heart surgery include:-
• Transient ischaemic attacks
• Stroke (both ischaemic and haemorhhagic)
• Vascular dementia
• Vascular parkinsonism
• Seizures
• Subdural haematoma
• Epidural haematoma
• Acute hydrocephalus
• Hypoglycaemic coma
• Acute visual loss
• Choreoathetosis
• Peripheral neuropathy (saphenous, peroneal, phrenic, ulnar, recurrent laryngeal, radial sensory, facial, auditory, oculomotor).
• Spinal cord infarction and other vascular myelopathies
To celebrate your heart today, do one thing at least – check your blood pressure. Hypertension is the major cause of preventable neurological disease.  Eat well, drink moderately, avoid smoking, keep fit and thus do your heart a favour. 

Cheers to your heart!
Neurologist, Professor, Researcher, Scientist, Mentor.

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