The Head of Cardiology at the National Hospital, Abuja, Dr Oladipupo Fasan, has warned about the rising risk of sudden deaths linked to cardiovascular diseases, urging Nigerians to undergo regular medical checks and manage risk factors.
Fasan gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Abuja, identifying cardiovascular diseases as major medical conditions that can cause people to collapse and die suddenly.
The World Health Organization, WHO, estimated that cardiovascular diseases claimed 19.8 million lives globally in 2022, accounting for about 32 per cent of all deaths worldwide.
The global health agency reported that heart attacks and strokes accounted for 85 per cent of cardiovascular disease deaths, with more than 75 per cent occurring in low- and middle-income countries.
In Nigeria, WHO’s 2025 Global Report on Hypertension estimated that about 22 million adults aged 30 to 79 were living with hypertension in 2024, representing approximately 32 per cent of the population within that age group.
Fasan identified stroke, heart attacks, heart failure and diseases affecting blood vessels as potential causes of sudden death. He added that hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol increased the risk of cardiovascular complications.
He explained that sudden death could result from several medical conditions, with cardiovascular diseases accounting for a significant proportion of cases.
The cardiologist said cardiovascular diseases were becoming an increasing concern in Nigeria as the country experienced a shift from communicable diseases, such as malaria, pneumonia and typhoid, towards non-communicable conditions, including cancers and cardiovascular diseases.
He attributed the growing risk to lifestyle changes, including unhealthy diets, physical inactivity and obesity.
Fasan described hypertension as a particularly serious concern, noting that diabetes and high cholesterol were also significant risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.
He said changes in people’s lifestyles had contributed to the growing burden of these conditions, stressing the importance of preventive healthcare.
The cardiologist also cautioned Nigerians against embarking on strenuous exercise without first assessing their health status, advising beginners and those planning intensive workouts to consult a doctor.
He explained that some people might have congenital heart conditions without knowing it, making vigorous exercise potentially dangerous.
Such conditions include hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a disease affecting the heart muscle, and certain channelopathies, which are disorders involving the electrical activity of the heart.
Also Read: Cardiologist Dariush Mozaffarian challenges calorie counting
Fasan said people with these conditions could develop irregular heart rhythms or experience sudden cardiac arrest during strenuous physical activity.
He added that people with uncontrolled hypertension could experience dangerous increases in blood pressure during exercise, while those with diabetes could develop dangerously high or low blood sugar levels.
However, he advised people already accustomed to exercising not to abandon the activity unnecessarily but encouraged beginners to start with low- to moderate-intensity exercises and gradually increase the intensity as their fitness improved.
According to him, regular exercise offers several health benefits, including weight management, improved blood circulation, lower blood pressure, reduced cholesterol and blood sugar levels, and a lower risk of dementia.
He recommended combining aerobic activities with resistance exercises, including weight training, to achieve broader health benefits.
On low blood pressure, Fasan explained that a low reading did not automatically indicate a medical condition requiring treatment, as some healthy individuals naturally had relatively low blood pressure without experiencing adverse effects.
He said the condition should be assessed based on its effect on the person’s circulation and overall clinical state rather than the numerical reading alone.
The cardiologist, however, warned that low blood pressure could indicate a serious medical problem when associated with conditions such as a heart attack that impaired the heart’s pumping ability or severe fluid loss caused by repeated vomiting and diarrhea.
He explained that significant fluid loss could reduce blood volume, causing blood pressure to fall and potentially leading to shock if the condition was not promptly treated.
Fasan therefore urged Nigerians to seek medical assessment when experiencing concerning symptoms and to prioritize regular health checks to identify cardiovascular risk factors before complications develop.
NAN
