Globally, cardiovascular diseases are responsible for about 32% of all deaths, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
In Nigeria, meanwhile, the Nigerian Heart Foundation estimates that one in three adult deaths is linked to heart complications. Alarmingly, many of the victims are not the elderly.
“We’re seeing patients in their late twenties and early thirties come in with significant heart muscle damage, often discovered incidentally,” remarks Kemi Olatunji, a cardiologist at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital. “These individuals had no idea they’d experienced a heart attack because the symptoms were vague and easy to ignore.”
Across the country a growing share of individuals aged 25–45 are reporting subtle heart attacks, medically known as myocardial infarctions.
Compared with the symptoms associated with popular heart conditions like cardiac arrest, these infarctions manifest through fatigue, mild discomfort, dizziness or indigestion.
A destructive pattern
Medical experts point to lifestyle shifts and work-related stress as major contributors. Among Nigeria’s young population, the hustle culture—driven by multiple income streams and extended working hours—has created a generation burdened with chronic stress.
A report by the World Bank notes that among the 60% of urban youth engaged in sedentary work, less than 20% meet the WHO’s recommended 150 minutes of weekly physical activity. On top of that, many Nigerian adults reportedly sleep far less than the recommended 7–9 hours per night.
Prolonged stress triggers hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, which elevate blood pressure, increase cholesterol levels and accelerate heart rate. Over time, this persistent state of alertness leads to inflammation and arterial damage.
But stress is hardly an isolated culprit. Another factor is the growing consumption of energy drinks. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) reported a spike in energy drink sales in 2023, with the highest consumption rates observed among those aged between 18 and 35.
Energy drinks, which contain much higher caffeine levels than coffee, have been shown to cause irregular heartbeats, elevated blood pressure and arterial constriction.
“Two cans in a short period can raise your heart rate to dangerous levels, especially if you’re dehydrated or have skipped meals,” says Ayomide Bello, a Canada-based nurse who’s seen several young patients collapse during work shifts after stimulant overload.
For a more potent brew, some mix energy drinks with alcohol, which, Bello warns, creates a storm for cardiac distress.
Low awareness means that many ignore the warning signs, deepening the crisis.
“Many young people mistake heart-related symptoms for gastritis or fatigue,” notes Olatunji, the cardiologist, adding: “By the time they visit a hospital, significant myocardial scarring has already occurred. Unfortunately, that damage is irreversible.”
Scaling back heart attacks
In recent years, a slew of initiatives has emerged to counteract this medical concern. In 2023, the “Healthy Heart Nigeria” campaign was launched by the Federal Ministry of Health, in partnership with the Nigerian Heart Foundation.
The programme spreads cardiovascular education to workplaces and tertiary institutions, promoting regular heart screenings and reduced caffeine intake.
In 2022 in a bid to regulate the caffeine content of beverages, NAFDAC mandated that products exceeding 320 mg of caffeine per litre must display explicit warning labels. This move followed multiple incidents of cardiac arrhythmia linked to high-caffeine consumption among university students and long-distance drivers.
Elsewhere, private hospitals such as Reddington, Evercare and Tristate have introduced subsidised cardiac screening programmes targeting young professionals.
In Abuja, the Lifeline Cardiac Foundation has screened over 12,000 young adults for blood pressure and cholesterol irregularities since 2022.
Experts reckon that individual lifestyle reforms and continual medical assessments can curb the emerging epidemic of heart-related deaths in Nigeria.
Corporate organisations are amping up these nationwide interventions by offering wellness programmes such as stress-management sessions, ergonomic adjustments and gym memberships as part of employee benefits.
But that’s only half the work. Counteracting the glorification of overwork—the widespread belief that success is driven by sleepless nights and stimulants—remains the deeper challenge.
Summary not available at this time.
