By Oriola Ibiyemi
Hypertension is a major health concern in Nigeria, affecting millions. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about one in three Nigerian adults suffers from high blood pressure. A 2018 study published in the Nigerian Journal of Cardiology found that 45% of Nigerians aged 30 and above are hypertensive, yet only one-third of them are aware of their condition. The 2019 Nigeria Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Survey also highlighted that hypertension accounts for nearly 50% of stroke cases and is a leading cause of heart disease in the country.
Commonly known as High Blood Pressure (BP), it is a serious cardiovascular disorder where the force of blood against the arteries remains persistently high. A blood pressure reading above 140/90 mmHg on multiple occasions is considered hypertensive. The heart, a muscular organ positioned in the mediastinum (the space between the lungs), pumps blood throughout the body. It is encased in a protective sac called the pericardium, which prevents friction and trauma. Normal blood pressure ranges between 100/60 mmHg and 140/90 mmHg. Any reading below 100/60 mmHg is classified as hypotension, while readings above 140/90 mmHg indicate hypertension.