Nigeria TV Info

The Silent Killer: Why Hypertension Is Rising in Nigeria and What You Can Do

One minute, you’re feeling perfectly fine. The next, you could be in an emergency room, recovering from a stroke or heart attack you never saw coming. This is the frightening reality of hypertension — commonly known as high blood pressure — which has earned the nickname “the silent killer” for good reason. It quietly damages the heart, brain, kidneys, and blood vessels without any warning signs — until it’s too late.

In Nigeria, hypertension is spreading at an alarming rate, leaving countless families haunted by stories of sudden illness and loss. Despite repeated warnings from the Nigerian Hypertension Society (NHS) and the Nigerian Cardiac Society (NCS), many people remain unaware of the dangers, or underestimate just how deadly high blood pressure can be.

Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps. When it’s at the right level, your body functions smoothly. But when pressure stays too high for too long, it begins to damage the body’s systems. The scariest part? High blood pressure often causes no symptoms. You may feel completely healthy, even as your arteries harden and your heart works overtime.

Left untreated, hypertension dramatically increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, and other life-threatening complications. The good news is that awareness and simple lifestyle changes — including regular exercise, a balanced diet, and routine blood pressure checks — can make a significant difference.

NHS and NCS urge Nigerians to take proactive steps today, because in the fight against this silent killer, knowledge and early action can save lives.