Heart disease remains a major public health challenge, claiming millions of lives each year and affecting people across all age groups.
According to the World Health Organisation, an estimated 19.8 million people died from cardiovascular diseases in 2022, accounting for nearly one in three deaths globally. About 85 per cent of these deaths resulted from heart attacks and strokes.
In Nigeria, cardiovascular disease is also an increasing public health concern. The World Heart Observatory estimates that more than 235,000 Nigerians die annually from cardiovascular-related conditions, while the WHO identifies ischaemic heart disease, commonly known as a heart attack, as one of the country’s leading non-communicable causes of death.
A 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis published in BMC Cardiovascular Disorders estimated that hypertension affects 34.2 per cent of Nigerian adults, roughly one in every three people.
Although heart attacks often appear sudden, experts say the underlying damage usually develops over many years through a combination of medical conditions and unhealthy lifestyle habits.
