Hypertension in Nigeria

September 27, 2025
By admin
Charity, NTD

Hypertension

Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a common and serious medical condition in which the pressure of blood in your arteries is consistently too high. It is often referred to as the “silent killer” because it typically has no symptoms, meaning you can have it for years without knowing. This can lead to serious health problems if left untreated.

What is a Blood Pressure Reading?

Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and is expressed as two numbers:

Systolic pressure (top number): Measures the pressure in your blood vessels when your heart beats.
Diastolic pressure (bottom number): Measures the pressure in your blood vessels when your heart rests between beats.

A normal blood pressure reading is generally considered to be around 120/80 mmHg. Hypertension is typically diagnosed if a reading is consistently 140/90 mmHg or higher on two different days.

Symptoms

As mentioned, most people with hypertension do not experience any symptoms. The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to have it measured by a healthcare professional.

In rare cases of very high blood pressure (a hypertensive crisis, typically 180/120 mmHg or higher), symptoms can appear. These are signs of a medical emergency and include:

Severe headaches
Chest pain
Dizziness or blurred vision
Shortness of breath
Nosebleeds
Nausea or vomiting
Anxiety and confusion
Pounding in the chest, neck, or ears

Causes and Risk Factors

For most people, there is no single identifiable cause of hypertension. However, a number of risk factors can increase your likelihood of developing the condition:

Age: The risk of high blood pressure increases as you get older.
Genetics and Family History: Hypertension often runs in families.
Lifestyle Factors:
- Being overweight or obese
- Lack of physical activity
- A diet high in salt and low in potassium
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Smoking
- High stress levels
- Lack of good-quality sleep
Underlying Medical Conditions:
- Kidney disease
- Diabetes
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Certain hormonal conditions

Complications

If hypertension is not treated, the constant high pressure can damage your arteries and organs, leading to a range of serious health complications, including:

Heart disease: High blood pressure puts extra strain on the heart, which can lead to a heart attack, heart failure, and irregular heart rhythms.
Stroke: Hypertension can cause blood vessels to burst or become blocked, interrupting blood flow to the brain.
Kidney disease: Damaged blood vessels in the kidneys can lead to kidney failure.
Eye problems: High blood pressure can damage the blood vessels in the eyes, potentially leading to vision loss.
Vascular dementia: Reduced blood flow to the brain can affect cognitive function, memory, and learning.

Treatment and Management

The goal of treatment is to lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of complications. A treatment plan may involve a combination of lifestyle changes and, if necessary, medication.

Lifestyle Changes:

Healthy Diet: The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) eating plan, which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy, is often recommended.
Reduce Salt Intake: Limiting sodium can significantly lower blood pressure.
Regular Exercise: Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on most days of the week.
Maintain a Healthy Weight: Losing even a small amount of weight can have a positive impact on blood pressure.
Limit Alcohol and Quit Smoking: Both alcohol and tobacco use can raise blood pressure.
Manage Stress: Relaxation techniques, counseling, and other stress-management strategies can be beneficial.

Medications:

If lifestyle changes alone are not enough, a doctor may prescribe medication to help control your blood pressure. Common types of blood pressure medications include:

ACE inhibitors
Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)
Calcium channel blockers
Diuretics
Beta-blockers

In some cases, a combination of medications may be needed. It is important to work with a healthcare professional to determine the best treatment plan for you and to regularly monitor your blood pressure.

Hypertension in Nigeria

Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a significant public health issue in Nigeria, often referred to as a “silent killer” because it frequently has no symptoms until it leads to severe complications. The burden of the disease is high and rising, with low rates of awareness, treatment, and control.

Prevalence and Burden

High and Increasing Prevalence: The prevalence of hypertension in Nigerian adults is estimated to be between 25% and 40%. Some studies have projected that the number of cases among adults will increase from about 20.8 million in 2010 to 39.1 million by 2030.
Geographic and Demographic Variations: The prevalence varies across different regions and populations. It is generally higher in urban areas compared to rural areas. While some studies suggest a higher prevalence in men, others indicate it is slightly higher in women.
Low Awareness and Control: A major problem is the low level of awareness. Fewer than one in five Nigerians with hypertension are aware of their condition. Among those who are aware, many do not receive consistent or adequate treatment, leading to poor control of their blood pressure.

Risk Factors

The rise of hypertension in Nigeria is linked to a combination of modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors:

Modifiable Risk Factors:

Unhealthy Diets: Diets high in salt, processed foods, saturated fats, and added sugars.
Physical Inactivity: Sedentary lifestyles, particularly in urban areas.
Obesity and High BMI: Being overweight or obese significantly increases the risk of hypertension.
Harmful Alcohol Use and Smoking: These habits are major contributors to high blood pressure.

Non-Modifiable Risk Factors:

Increasing Age: The risk of hypertension increases with age.
Family History: A genetic predisposition and a positive family history of hypertension are strong risk factors.
Gender and Ethnicity: While some studies show a higher prevalence in men, others show it’s slightly higher in women. Certain ethnic groups may also have a higher prevalence.

Challenges in Management and Care

Several barriers hinder effective hypertension management in Nigeria:

Patient-Related Barriers:
- Low Awareness and Knowledge: Many people lack a basic understanding of hypertension, its consequences, and the importance of long-term management.
- Poor Adherence: Patients often have poor adherence to medication, citing reasons such as financial constraints, forgetting to take pills, high “pill burden” (taking multiple medications), and a misconception that treatment can be stopped once blood pressure is lowered.
Healthcare System Barriers:
- Limited Access to Care: Access to healthcare, particularly in rural areas, can be a challenge.
- High Cost of Treatment: The cost of antihypertensive medications, laboratory fees, and other out-of-pocket health expenses is often high, especially for a population with low income.
- Inadequate Infrastructure: There is a shortage of trained health personnel, proper equipment for blood pressure measurement, and a reliable supply of essential drugs in many clinics.
- Lack of Standardized Protocols: While national guidelines exist, implementation is inconsistent. The lack of standardized protocols and hypertension registries makes it difficult to monitor progress and track patient outcomes.

Public Health Initiatives

Despite the challenges, there are ongoing efforts to address the hypertension crisis:

Hypertension Treatment in Nigeria (HTN) Program: This program, based on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) HEARTS technical package, aims to improve hypertension care in primary healthcare settings. It includes standardized treatment protocols, team-based care, and a drug revolving fund to improve medication accessibility.
National Hypertension Control Initiative (NHCI): A joint initiative by the Federal Ministry of Health and other partners, the NHCI aims to increase awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of high blood pressure, with a focus on primary healthcare and community levels.
National Guidelines: The Nigerian Hypertension Society has developed and revised guidelines for the management of hypertension, tailored to the country’s socio-economic and cultural context. These guidelines provide recommendations for both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions.

These initiatives aim to strengthen the healthcare system, improve patient education, and make high-quality, affordable care more accessible to a wider population.

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YouTube

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Hypertension: Nigeria’s Silent Killer – Experts Reveal the Growing Crisis – YouTube

Hypertension, known as the “silent killer,” is increasingly affecting millions across Nigeria, causing serious health complications that often go unnoticed …

ResearchGate

www.researchgate.net

Improving hypertension control in Nigeria: early policy implications from the Hypertension Treatment in Nigeria program – ResearchGate

with recent estimates ranging from 22% to 44%, which. varies by region [2]. However, awareness, treatment, and. control rates remain low. In a 2021 …