A specialist in Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) at the Delta State Ministry of Health, Dr. Kajovo David, has raised concern over the rising prevalence of hypertension among Nigerian youths — a condition once largely associated with older adults.

Speaking to journalists in Asaba on Thursday, Dr. David described the trend as a major public health concern, stressing that non-communicable diseases are increasingly affecting Nigerians aged 15 to 35.

“Recent data show a notable increase in hypertension among young people, driven by lifestyle factors such as poor diets, physical inactivity, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and mental health challenges,” he said.

Dr. David cited World Health Organization figures indicating that 38.1 percent of Nigerian adults are hypertensive, while up to 20 percent of young adults as young as 18 are now living with high blood pressure.

He also referenced the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, which reported a steady rise in non-communicable diseases, with hypertension at the forefront.

“A 2021 study conducted in Lagos found that nearly 15 percent of university students had elevated blood pressure, strongly linked to obesity, smoking, and family history. This mirrors a growing global trend where developing countries are now facing the double burden of infectious diseases and NCDs,” Dr. David noted.

He attributed the rise in hypertension among youths to rapid urbanization and changing lifestyles, including high consumption of salt- and fat-laden processed foods, sedentary habits, and increased stress levels due to unemployment and economic instability.
Dr. David called for a multi-sectoral response, urging public health education campaigns, routine blood pressure screenings in schools and workplaces, and stricter regulation of tobacco and unhealthy foods.

He warned: “There is an urgent need for young people to understand that hypertension is not just an old man’s disease — it can affect them too, and its consequences can be deadly.”

Without prompt action, Dr. David cautioned that Nigeria could face a surge in youth-related non-communicable diseases, with serious implications for national productivity and the health system.