The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared hypertension a global health emergency, revealing that 1.4 billion people lived with high blood pressure in 2024, yet only one in five patients have the condition under control.
The findings, contained in WHO’s second Global Hypertension Report, launched during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, point to the condition as one of the most pressing but preventable killers worldwide.
Hypertension commonly known as high blood pressure is a leading driver of heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, and premature deaths. Experts say the condition silently affects millions, often without symptoms until serious complications occur.
“Hypertension is both preventable and treatable. With the right policies, Nigeria and other countries can save lives and reduce health costs,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Nigeria is among the countries at greatest risk, with recent health surveys showing that more than one in three adults live with high blood pressure, yet many remain undiagnosed and untreated. Health officials warn that rising cases are linked to urban lifestyles, poor diet, obesity, and low physical activity.
Dr. Salma Anas, Special Adviser to the President on Health, noted that “hypertension is now a silent epidemic in Nigeria. It is fueling stroke and heart disease, which have become top killers in our hospitals.”
Medical experts caution that uncontrolled hypertension is not only a health threat but also a financial strain. Families spend heavily on treatment for complications, while hospitals face growing cases of stroke, kidney dialysis, and heart failure.
WHO estimates that scaling up effective treatment in Nigeria could save tens of thousands of lives annually and reduce the economic burden on already stretched health services.
The global health body has urged governments, including Nigeria’s, to:
Introduce routine blood pressure checks in all clinics.
Guarantee affordable supply of antihypertensive drugs.
Promote healthier diets by cutting down salt intake.
Empower community health workers to deliver frontline care.
Doctors advise Nigerians to check blood pressure regularly, exercise more, avoid excessive salt and alcohol, and adhere strictly to prescribed medication.
With four out of five hypertensive patients globally still uncontrolled, WHO says the crisis can be reversed if governments act with urgency and citizens take personal responsibility for their health.