ABUJA, NIGERIA — As the nation marks World Heart Day on September 29, health experts warn that rising young heart disease risk factors are increasingly exposing young Nigerians to cardiovascular complications due to sedentary lifestyles, poor diets, and declining physical activity.
Speaking at the 2026 World Heart Day event in Abuja organized alongside the World Heart Federation, the Nigerian Cardiac Society highlighted the urgent need for early screening under this year’s theme, “Don’t Miss a Beat.”
“Heart diseases, including hypertension, could remain unnoticed for a long time,” warned Dr. Rasaaq Adebayo, President of the Nigerian Cardiac Society, emphasizing that cardiovascular conditions frequently present without obvious warning symptoms.
Critical Drivers Behind Rising Young Heart Disease Risk
Cardiologists identified several changing lifestyle factors contributing to the shifting disease burden among adults in their twenties and thirties:
Risk Factor Category
Environmental & Behavioral Impact
Sedentary Living & Screen Time
Transition to desk jobs, long commutes, and unregulated device screen time among youth reduces daily physical activity.
Dietary Shifts
Increased consumption of cheap, highly processed foods high in sodium, refined sugars, and unhealthy fats.
Silent Progression
Hypertension rarely causes early symptoms, leading to undetected organ damage in the heart, kidneys, and brain.
Lifestyle Modifications and Public Health Measures
To mitigate rising young heart disease risk across the population, the society urged individuals to prioritize regular physical exercise, adequate sleep, and balanced nutrition while limiting salt, sugar, alcohol, and tobacco intake. Dr. Ejieroghene Umuerri, Secretary General of the society, specifically highlighted the need for parents to regulate gadget usage among children to curb early sedentary habits.
Beyond individual choices, cardiologists stress that expanding primary care access remains essential. Routine blood pressure checks are fast, inexpensive, and non-invasive, serving as the frontline defense against silent cardiovascular damage.
To bridge current screening gaps, community pharmacists have called on the Federal Government to formalize their role in primary care, allowing retail pharmacies to provide official blood pressure and diabetes screenings to young adults across the country.
Why It Matters: Routine blood pressure screening for young adults is the most cost-effective defense against early strokes and premature cardiac failure.
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