Professor Chizindu Alikor, a consultant cardiologist and Chief Medical Director of RSUTH, has raised alarm over the growing cases of hypertension among young Nigerians, noting that high blood pressure is “no longer a sickness for the old” as even 18-year-olds are now affected. Speaking at the 123rd Inaugural Lecture of Rivers State University, he explained that lifestyle decisions — including poor diets, excessive salt and sugar intake, stress, obesity, and declining physical activity — are major drivers of cardiovascular diseases.
He warned that cardiovascular risk factor clustering is already as high as 15% among people aged 18 to 39 and noted worsening trends in both rural and urban communities. Alikor highlighted rising cases of heart failure and stroke in the Niger Delta, urging Nigerians to “know your numbers” and monitor blood pressure regularly. He advocated the “Alikor Survival Network Model” as a holistic approach to improve heart health and cautioned that without intentional interventions, Nigeria could face an alarming surge in heart attacks and stroke in the next 10 to 20 years.