Medical experts have cautioned Nigerians against using supplements sold online claiming to help lower high blood pressure.
The experts warned that most of the claims by the sellers of the supplements are false, stressing that those products can kill.
The experts stated that a lot of the supplements were laced with unapproved substances that were injurious to the body, adding that they are not registered with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.
According to the expert, the efficacy claims of those preparations have no scientific backing recognised by relevant health authorities and agencies.
The experts disclosed this during exclusive interviews with PUNCH HealthWise, urging people suffering from hypertension to only take medicines prescribed for them by their doctors.
Mayo Clinic says herbal supplements aren’t necessarily safe just because they’re natural.
It warned that people should avoid supplements that may interfere with blood pressure medication.
“Check with your doctor before taking any herbal supplements. You may need to avoid supplements that raise your blood pressure or interfere with your blood pressure medications,” the clinic cautioned.
Speaking with our correspondent, a Consultant Pathologist, Dr. Michael Ajala, asked people managing hypertension not to take drugs not prescribed for them by their doctors.
Dr. Ajala, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Help Diagnostics and Checkup Services, Lagos, also said hypertensive patients should avoid taking herbs and supplements as some of them have addictive actions.
The pathologist explained, “When you are taking antihypertensive drugs, don’t take herbs and supplements.
“We have a lot of them on the internet with spurious claims. You see a lot of them that are advertised, that they work, and things like that.
“When you are taking antihypertensive drugs, please, don’t take herbs or some other supplements because some of these things have addictive actions that may be damaging that will be bad for the health status of whoever is taking them.
“There are a lot of them on the internet but the question is, have they been tried? Are there trials? Some of them will even claim that they are NAFDAC approved when they are not.
“The question is you want to know the kind of trials that have gone on these supplements or herbs. Even if they have been tried somewhere else, have they been tried in our environment because the physiology may differ?
“The mode of action may differ from one environment to the other especially in the blacks for instance.”
The physician noted that high blood pressure affects many organs of the body and causes impaired vision.
He advised those diagnosed with hypertension to avoid self-medication and not to share drugs with friends and family members.
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