A health expert has urged urgent steps to address the growing cases of high blood pressure among young Nigerians, warning that the condition is no longer limited to older adults.
Bolanle Dada, a registered dietitian and founder of the DexaDiet Sustainability Initiative, highlighted studies showing hypertension prevalence among Nigerian adolescents and young adults ranging from one in 12 to one in three.
She noted that nearly 70 percent of the population is under 30, and many university students rely on processed meals, energy drinks and face high stress, raising risks of heart disease, stroke and kidney failure.
Dada's group recently ended a two-week digital campaign called #PressureCheck to promote blood pressure awareness through social media and educational content.
She called for collaboration between government, schools, employers and health providers, alongside policy changes to improve food environments and expand preventive care as Nigeria advances its hypertension resolution.
