Nigerians weighed down by stress need not go far anymore for solutions.
This is because dancing to music alone, whether foreign or local, provides emotional relief and makes people feel better.
A renowned professor of cardiology and former Chief Medical Director of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Prof. David Adewale Oke, disclosed this in Lagos, affirming that dancing helped to reduce stress.
Oke revealed that there were a lot of simple self-stress management measures in place, such as socialisation and dancing that Nigerians could adopt to relieve themselves of stress and its attendant consequences, which include: hypertension, diabetes, among others.
He said, “Dancing is a good way to reduce stress and many people do not know this. People can actually reduce stress by engaging in self-management programmes such as regular exercise, saying no to smoking, smiling, laughing, keeping a positive attitude, eating a balanced diet and avoiding too much salt intake.
In his lecture titled, “Stress: How it affects your health and what you need to do about it”, at an event organised by His Master’s Voice Ministry, he said people should stop exposing themselves to unnecessary pressures and worries, warning that stress, if left untreated, could result to physical and mental illness.
His Master’s Voice Ministry is an interdenominational body that is not affiliated to any church but with a mission to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ using resources and skills to touch lives and save souls.
Oke told participants at the event to take their health seriously and jettison the notion that stress was meant for the rich.
“There is nothing like ‘Executive Stress’. I want you to know that it is not only the executives that are exposed to stress. Everybody, including children, are exposed to it. But how you go about it and your attitude to things is very important. Stress is a state of the mind but not an illness. It is necessary for human advancement. However, it could cause health problem when it is allowed to progress and result in depression,” he explained.
While urging Nigerians to take life easy and be patient with one and another, the cardiologist, citing proven studies, cautioned that those with asthma must be wary of stress as it could aggravate their condition.
Speaking at the event, the host pastor, Reverend Dr. Owoade Omobolaji of the Christ Life Baptist Church, Ejigbo, Lagos, said, the lecture was an eye-opener for them on what they needed to do to conquer stress.
Omobolaji commended the organisers for the programme, noting that a lot of people had been blessed by the programme through the lecture and free health screening.
“They have been well educated on what to do to reduce stress. I am appealing to them that they put all that they have learned into practice and also take the issues of their health seriously,” he
said.
The Coordinator of the programme, Mr. Wole Toye, expressed delight at the large turnout of invitees, assuring that the ministry would continue to deploy different strategies to touch lives and impact humanity through constant interaction and engagement with the people. The event witnessed free malaria, diabetes and hypertension screening and those who tested positive were also given free treatment.
