Because the world marks World Coronary heart Day 2025 below the theme “Don’t Miss a Beat”, specialists are elevating recent issues over the rising burden of cardiovascular illnesses in Nigeria, the place hundreds of thousands of persons are residing with hypertension with out realizing it.
Marked each 29 September, the day is devoted to elevating consciousness about cardiovascular diseases- the world’s main killer. In Nigeria, the event has renewed consideration on hypertension, the most important driver of coronary heart assaults and strokes.
The Nigerian Cardiac Society (NCS) estimates that between 30 and 40 per cent of Nigerian adults have hypertension, however fewer than one in 5 are conscious of their situation.
This explains why many circumstances stay undiagnosed and untreated, leaving individuals weak to coronary heart assaults, strokes and sudden loss of life.
“Hypertension is the main threat issue for coronary heart illness and stroke, and sadly, many Nigerians don’t even know they’ve it,” mentioned Oladipupo Fasan, head of cardiology on the Nationwide Hospital, Abuja, and Secretary-Basic of the Nigerian Hypertension Society.
In accordance with NCS, solely about 10 per cent of Nigerians residing with the situation are at present receiving remedy for the situation.
Silent killer
Hypertension, typically described as a “silent killer,” normally presents no signs till severe issues set in.
“For this reason we name it the silent killer,” Mr Fasan defined. “Hypertension typically has no signs for years. By the point individuals really feel unwell, it might have already got triggered severe harm to the guts, mind, or kidneys.”
In June 2025, the Nigerian authorities raised concerns that many circumstances of hypertension within the nation stay undiagnosed, including to the nation’s rising burden of non-communicable illnesses.
Talking on the twenty fifth Annual Scientific Convention and Basic Conferences of the Nigerian Hypertension Society in Abuja, the Particular Adviser to the President on Well being, Salma Anas, famous that “practically one in three Nigerian adults has hypertension, but many are unaware of their situation.”
Additionally lately, the World Well being Organisation (WHO) raised issues over the worldwide burden of hypertension, warning that regardless of being each preventable and treatable, the situation continues to kill hundreds of thousands every year.
Hyperlink to Nigeria’s coronary heart illness disaster
Uncontrolled hypertension is a major driver of coronary heart illness in Nigeria, immediately contributing to hypertensive coronary heart illness (HHD), a situation the place the guts muscle thickens and finally weakens, typically resulting in coronary heart failure.
Additionally it is the main driver of stroke, which ceaselessly ends in long-term incapacity or loss of life, and a big contributor to kidney failure and coronary artery illness.
“Hypertension damages blood vessels in every single place within the physique,” Mr Fasan mentioned. “It could actually result in stroke, dementia, kidney issues, and coronary heart assaults. That’s the reason undiagnosed and untreated hypertension is now the most important engine of our cardiovascular disaster.”
Heart problems (CVD) is a gaggle of situations affecting the guts or blood vessels (veins and arteries).
WHO describes CVD because the leading cause of loss of life globally, accounting for an estimated 17.9 million deaths every year. Of those, 85 per cent outcome from coronary heart assaults and strokes.
Why Nigerians are “lacking the beat”
Mr Fasan additional defined that undiagnosed hypertension persists due to some systemic and social limitations.
“Hypertension has an extended latency interval and no apparent signs, so individuals typically don’t take it severely till issues set in,” he mentioned.
In accordance with the physician, ignorance and misconceptions stay a serious problem, with many “resorting to unverified cures and natural mixtures extensively promoted on social media.”
“Amongst those that know their standing, as much as half don’t management their blood stress due to poor medicine adherence or misinformation,” he famous, including that well being staff should actively counteract false narratives on-line.
Mr Fasan highlighted that the federal government should spend money on stronger major well being techniques, practice extra well being staff, and cut back the price of remedy so individuals can entry care early.
Name to motion: Don’t Miss a Beat
Mr Fasan famous that step one is routine screening for people.
“Each grownup ought to know their blood stress numbers,” he mentioned. “Common check-ups, wholesome diets, train, and avoiding dangerous habits like smoking are easy steps that save lives.”
He mentioned the federal government’s precedence is to strengthen the first healthcare system in order that blood stress checks develop into a part of on a regular basis care on the group degree.
Coaching well being staff, increasing entry to inexpensive medicines, and investing in public consciousness campaigns are vital.
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“Authorities insurance policies should cut back the price of hypertension medication and make them extensively accessible,” Mr Fasan mentioned. “Medical insurance additionally must work higher in order that remedy doesn’t push individuals into poverty.”
In accordance with the WHO, eliminating synthetic trans fat and managing modifiable threat components, reminiscent of extreme salt consumption, bodily inactivity, and tobacco use, are essential methods for lowering the worldwide burden of coronary heart illness.
“On the finish of the day, tackling hypertension is about constructing stronger well being techniques and more healthy habits,” Mr Fasan mentioned.
