Your Heart No Dey Wait for Old Age

29 September is World Heart Day. This year's message is simple: Don't Miss a Beat.

Many of us think heart problems are for old people. Doctors say that is no longer true. More young Nigerians now face heart disease because of how we eat, how much we sit, and how much we stress.

The silent killer

The biggest danger to your heart is high blood pressure (hypertension). In Nigeria:

• About 1 in 3 adults has it.
• Fewer than 1 in 5 of them have it under control.

Doctors call it the "silent killer" because you can feel completely fine until it causes a stroke, heart attack, or kidney failure. The only way to know your BP is to check it.

When to rush to hospital

Don't wait or chat online. Go to the nearest hospital immediately if you or someone near you has:

• Chest pain or tightness, especially if it spreads to the arm, neck or jaw
• Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the face or body
• Sudden trouble speaking or seeing
• A very bad headache that comes suddenly
• Difficulty breathing

5 things to do this week

1. Check your BP. Many pharmacies and health centres can do it in two minutes. Write down the number.
2. Use less salt and seasoning cubes. Too much salt pushes your BP up.
3. Walk 30 minutes a day. Take the stairs. Get down one bus stop early.
4. Don't skip your drugs. If you're on BP medicine and money is tight, talk to a doctor before you cut or stop it.
5. Rest well and reduce stress. Sleep well, avoid smoking and go easy on alcohol.

How PadiDoctors can help

• Free symptom checker. Headache, dizziness, tiredness? Check your symptoms in English or Pidgin, any time.
• Talk to a licensed doctor, free for a limited time. Share your BP reading and ask what it means. No traffic, no long queue.
• Lab tests (coming soon). Book cholesterol and blood sugar tests, with sample collection at home.
• Heart-care plans (coming soon). Monthly plans for people living with high BP, with progress tracking.

Your heart no dey wait. Check your BP this week, then talk to a doctor at padidoctors.com.

Sources

• Sedentary lifestyle putting more young Nigerians at risk of heart disease – Freedom Online
• Unhealthy lifestyle exposing more young Nigerians to cardiovascular diseases – Peoples Gazette
• World Hypertension Day: Nigerian experts warn of silent killer – ThisDay
• 2026 World Hypertension Day – AIT
• World Heart Day 2026: Don't Miss a Beat – Sterling Hospitals