A new awareness campaign has been launched to spotlight Transthyretin (TTR) Amyloidosis a rare, progressive condition that builds toxic proteins in organs like the heart and nerves urging West Africans to seek early diagnosis before it turns fatal.
Experts warn the underdiagnosed disease strikes silently, mimicking heart failure or neuropathy, with delayed detection reducing survival rates base on available data.
Speaking on Radio Tamale, Head of Cardiology Unit at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Dr. Dzifa Ahadzi described TTR Amyloidosis as “a hidden killer” affecting older adults, particularly those with carpal tunnel or unexplained swelling.
It’s such that the body is not able to degrade these misgraded proteins persisting in the system then it begins to get into different vital organs of the body. This can result in the organ malfunction or eventual breakdown.
Even though there are two main types this condition including one which is hereditary thus transfer of the genes from parent to child and the other which seem quite common is the age related folding which is found in the very elderly people.
Typically symptoms creep in like fatigue, breathlessness because of difficulty in breathing, numbness or tingling sensation, swelling of the legs are some of it. In Ghana, we see rising cases linked to ageing populations, yet many die undiagnosed, Dr. Ahadzi said.
Principal Investigator for ATTR at the University for Technology and Applied Sciences UTAS, Dr Rita Suhuyini Salifu advised that people should pay attention to their health.
Paying attention to your body is key, early detection is the best and saves life. We are creating more awareness to get more support for people suffering from this condition. This project is to support early detection and scientifically document this health condition.
Dr. Suhuyini Salifu said the awareness initiative is spearheaded by the University of Technology and Applied Sciences -UTAS with funding from Global Bridges Oncology and Pfizer Global Medical Grants.
By: Blessed EDUAMOAH DADZIE