Goldie: ‘Artistes, long distance travellers must have regular leg exercises’

Goldie on her way to the 2013 Grammy in Los Angeles with (Kenny Ogungbe) on February 11th, three days before she passed on.

Following the death of Nigeria’s famous artiste, Goldie Harvey, artistes who travel long distances, as well as other travellers have been advised to do leg exercises regularly before, during and after embarking on any journey.
Speaking in an interview with me yesterday, National Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Physiotherapy Association, NPA, Mr. Chris Okafor, said  sitting still for long hours, such as on a long flight or car ride, is one veritable source of developing or aggravating pulmonary embolism, a health condition that was said to be responsible for Goldie’s death.
Okafor, however, advised that while on board a plane, bus or even a train, but undergoing a long journey, travellers should endeavour to make leg exercises a habit in order to prevent blood clots from occurring in their legs as well as arms.
“Artistes must adopt regular leg exercises. Long distance travellers as well should endeavour to make legs exercises a part of them before, during and after embarking on any journey in order to loosen the legs and allow free flow of blood. “Sitting in one place almost cropped up, for instance in our buses and economy class flights, is not health-friendly but travellers should also take necessary precautions by exercising.
“They can actually do this as well on board the plane by changing their sitting positions or stretching their legs,” he stated.
Okafor further warned that people who travel or sit in a position for over four hours are not the only ones at risk. According to him, sedentary lifestyle is another major source of the development and aggravation of such condition.
“We have many Nigerians who think sitting before the television set while their house helps do all the walking around is class. Worse still, these people jump from their home to their air-conditioned cars, and are on their seats almost all day long, only to repeat the same cycle when heading home and while at home until they go to bed.
“This kind of lifestyle though seems classy is not good for the legs and other parts of the body. To prevent coming down with such a condition which creeps in like a thief, we must learn to exercise, walk and live active lives – whether we are long travellers or not,” he added.
It will be recalled that Goldie Harvey, on February 14, had returned to the country from Los Angeles – a long distance journey of over 20 hours and developed sudden complications that led to her sudden death.
So far, results of the cause of her death revealed that she must have died of pulmonary embolism. Medical experts say this condition usually originates in the veins deep in the muscles and is called Deep Vein Thrombosis, DVT. According to Okafor, this condition usually occurs in the legs or pelvic veins; although it could also occur in the arms and if not detected could result in sudden death.