Heart disease prevention strategies amid rising mortality

Cardiovascular diseases represent a significant global health challenge, accounting for approximately 19.8 million deaths in 2022, or nearly one in three deaths worldwide. Heart attacks and strokes comprise about 85 per cent of these fatalities.

In Nigeria, cardiovascular conditions are an increasing concern, with the World Heart Observatory estimating over 235,000 annual deaths. Ischaemic heart disease is a leading non-communicable cause of death in the country. Research indicates that hypertension affects roughly 34.2 per cent of Nigerian adults.

Basil Okeahialam, a Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Jos, notes that heart attacks occur when blood supply to the heart is blocked or reduced. To mitigate risk, experts recommend monitoring and controlling blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels, as these factors can damage blood vessels over time.