HOPPS

Today we celebrated World Physiotherapy Day at Meros Plaza and had fun with some of our patients!

CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH AWARENESS

World Physiotherapy Day 2026 Education Session
Date: Tuesday, September 8, 2026

Meeting Overview

The meeting featured a physiotherapy-led cardiovascular health awareness and education session focused on prevention, early detection, healthy lifestyle choices, and stroke prevention.

The session formed part of the activities marking World Physiotherapy Day 2026 and emphasized the importance of understanding cardiovascular health risks and regularly monitoring key health indicators.

2026 Focus

* Cardiovascular health
* Stroke prevention
* Blood pressure awareness

Theme

Know Your Numbers and Prevent Stroke

Key Takeaways

Participants were encouraged to understand and regularly monitor important cardiovascular health indicators, including:

* Blood pressure
* Blood glucose
* Cholesterol
* Body Mass Index (BMI)
* Waist circumference

The session also highlighted the role of physiotherapy in:

* Promoting movement and physical activity
* Managing pain
* Improving mobility and physical function
* Supporting cardiovascular and respiratory health
* Preventing complications associated with inactivity
* Supporting rehabilitation after stroke and other health conditions

It was also highlighted during the presentation that hypertension is a major public health concern among Nigerian adults and that awareness, screening, and early intervention can help reduce cardiovascular complications.

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KEY DISCUSSION POINTS

1. Welcome and Opening

The session began with greetings, audio checks, participant welcomes, and a brief wait for additional attendees to join.

Inioluwa Elijah formally opened the programme, welcomed participants, and thanked everyone for attending the World Physiotherapy Day cardiovascular health awareness session.

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2. World Physiotherapy Day 2026 Focus

Inioluwa Elijah introduced the focus of the 2026 World Physiotherapy Day activities as cardiovascular health, stroke, and blood pressure awareness.

HOPPS Physiotherapy Clinic structured the programme around the theme:

“Know Your Numbers and Prevent Stroke.”

The programme focused on:

* Cardiovascular disease awareness
* Hypertension
* Stroke prevention
* Physical activity
* Cardiovascular risk factors
* Warning signs and symptoms
* Early detection
* Referral
* Health education and advocacy

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3. Participant Introductions and Baseline Knowledge

Participants were invited to introduce themselves and share whether they had:

* Previously received physiotherapy care
* Heard about cardiovascular disease
* Had prior knowledge of cardiovascular health conditions

Responses showed varying levels of knowledge and experience.

Some participants were already familiar with physiotherapy and cardiovascular diseases, while others were being introduced to the subjects in greater detail for the first time.

During the additional participant check-in, Oyinade, Pleasure Adaobi, and Prestige were invited to contribute.

Pleasure Adaobi shared that she had heard about cardiovascular conditions but did not fully understand what they meant, while Prestige identified himself as a physiotherapist.

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4. Staff and Guest Speaker Introduction

Inioluwa Elijah introduced members of the HOPPS Physiotherapy Clinic team participating in the programme.

The session was then formally handed over to Dr Olufunmilola Adeniran, who led the main educational presentation.

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5. Purpose of the Health Education Session

Dr Olufunmilola Adeniran welcomed attendees and explained that the online session followed an earlier World Physiotherapy Day outreach programme.

The purpose of the session was to:

* Improve understanding of physiotherapy
* Educate participants about cardiovascular diseases
* Promote disease prevention and early detection
* Encourage healthier lifestyle choices
* Increase awareness of stroke and cardiovascular risk factors

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6. The Role and Scope of Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy was described as a healthcare profession that helps individuals:

* Recover from injury and illness
* Improve physical function
* Maintain independence
* Develop or regain skills required for daily living
* Reduce pain
* Improve strength
* Improve movement and mobility
* Prevent disease and disability

The presentation emphasized that physiotherapy takes a whole-person approach to health and well-being.

Physiotherapists may work with patients experiencing:

* Musculoskeletal conditions
* Neurological conditions
* Cardiovascular conditions
* Respiratory conditions
* Pain and movement limitations

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7. Patient Assessment and Sedentary Behaviour

The presentation explained why physiotherapists often ask detailed questions about patients’ daily routines, occupations, movement patterns, and physical activities.

Prolonged sitting and limited movement were linked with:

* Aches and pains
* Reduced flexibility
* Muscle weakness
* Reduced physical activity
* Other negative effects on overall physical health

Participants were encouraged to remain physically active and reduce prolonged periods of inactivity.

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8. Cardiovascular Health in Nigeria

The presentation discussed the burden of conditions such as:

* Hypertension
* Diabetes
* Stroke
* Cardiovascular-related deaths
* Long-term disability following stroke

The importance of health education and awareness was emphasized as a means of helping individuals better understand their risks and take preventive action.

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9. Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases

Participants were introduced to the difference between communicable and non-communicable diseases.

Communicable Diseases

These are illnesses that can be transmitted directly or indirectly through people, pathogens, or vectors.

Examples discussed included:

* Malaria
* Lassa fever
* Common cold

Non-Communicable Diseases

These conditions are not transmitted from one person to another.

An example discussed was:

* Hypertension

Cardiovascular diseases fall within the category of non-communicable diseases.

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10. Understanding Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease was explained as a group of conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels.

The presentation explained that when blood flow is disrupted or blood vessels are damaged, important organs may also be affected.

Particular attention was given to the potential effects on:

* The brain
* The kidneys
* The heart

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11. Kidney Function and Blood Filtration

The role of the kidneys in filtering impurities and waste products from the blood was discussed.

Participants were reminded that the kidneys are naturally designed to remove waste from the body and that maintaining healthy habits is more important than relying unnecessarily on products marketed as body or kidney “cleansers.”

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12. Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Cardiovascular risk factors were grouped into two categories:

Non-Modifiable Risk Factors

Factors that cannot easily be changed include:

* Age
* Gender
* Race
* Family history and genetics

Modifiable or Manageable Risk Factors

Factors that individuals can work to reduce or manage include:

* Physical inactivity
* Poor diet
* Excess body weight
* Excessive alcohol consumption
* Smoking
* Missing routine health checks
* Stress
* Exposure to air pollution

Participants were encouraged to focus on the risk factors they can control through healthier lifestyle choices and appropriate medical care.

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13. Know Your Numbers

One of the major practical messages of the session was the importance of knowing your health numbers.

The health indicators discussed included:

* Blood pressure
* Fasting blood sugar
* Cholesterol
* Body Mass Index
* Waist circumference

Reference values discussed during the presentation included:

* Blood pressure: approximately 120/80 mmHg
* Fasting blood sugar: approximately 65–100 mg/dL
* Healthy adult BMI: approximately 18.6–24.9 kg/m²
* Waist circumference: approximately 40 inches or below for men
* Waist circumference: approximately 35 inches or below for women

Participants were encouraged to undergo appropriate health checks rather than waiting until symptoms appear.

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14. Blood Pressure and Hypertension

The presentation explained how the heart pumps blood throughout the body and how persistently elevated blood pressure can place additional strain on the heart and other organs.

Two blood pressure measurements were discussed:

Systolic Blood Pressure

The pressure created when the heart contracts and pumps blood.

Diastolic Blood Pressure

The pressure within the arteries when the heart relaxes between beats.

Participants were reminded that hypertension can sometimes require medication and should be properly assessed and managed by qualified healthcare professionals.

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15. Blood Sugar, Cholesterol, and Body Composition

The session also discussed:

Blood Sugar

Elevated blood glucose may occur when the body does not produce enough insulin or cannot use insulin effectively.

The presentation touched on:

* Daily blood glucose testing
* Fasting blood glucose
* A1C testing

Cholesterol

Participants were introduced to:

* LDL cholesterol
* HDL cholesterol
* Total cholesterol

Body Mass Index

BMI was discussed as one of the tools used to assess body weight relative to height, including categories such as:

* Healthy weight
* Overweight
* Obesity

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16. Warning Signs and Symptoms

Participants were reminded that some cardiovascular conditions, particularly hypertension and abnormal cholesterol levels, may develop without obvious symptoms.

However, certain warning signs may require medical attention.

Symptoms discussed included:

* Severe headache
* Chest pain
* Shortness of breath
* Changes in vision
* Heart palpitations
* Swelling of the legs
* Increased thirst
* Frequent urination
* Persistent fatigue
* Blurred vision
* Recurrent infections
* Slow-healing wounds

Participants were encouraged not to ignore unusual or persistent symptoms and to seek appropriate medical assessment.

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Conclusion

The cardiovascular health awareness session emphasized that prevention begins with knowledge, regular health checks, physical activity, and early intervention.

The central message of the programme was:

Know Your Numbers. Know Your Risk. Prevent Stroke.

Participants were encouraged to take greater responsibility for their cardiovascular health by monitoring important health indicators, remaining physically active, adopting healthier lifestyle habits, and seeking professional medical or physiotherapy support when necessary.

Here was how we roasted our boss on her birthday!!!!