No death is sudden, except for road traffic accidents — Professor Adebiyi

Professor Adewole Adebiyi, a cardiologist at the University College Hospital Ibadan, says in this interview with SADE OGUNTOLA that no death is actually sudden, except for road traffic accidents, but there is usually something underneath that was not discovered. Excerpts:

How do you perceive cases of sudden deaths we record daily in Nigeria? Is it something that is normal?

Now, sudden, unexpected death is the proper terminology. Sudden unexpected death is usually defined as a death that occurs unexpectedly or within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms. Many times when I hear sudden, unexpected deaths, it is often related to a heart-related issue. The commonest causes are a heart attack or abnormal heart rhythms. Also, stroke can cause sudden, unexpected death.

So, when you hear death occurring in a manner that you’re not expecting, you should consider the heart. Most times, it is the heart that develops a problem. But no death is actually sudden.

For instance, some people have elevated…