Dr Chukwudi Njelita, Chief Managing Director of Rock Foundation Hospital, Awka, has raised concern over the increasing prevalence of high blood pressure among adolescents and youths.
Njelita said that the trend was a departure from past experiences when hypertension was largely associated with adults and the elderly.
He noted that the long-standing medical advice recommending routine blood pressure checks mainly for individuals aged 40 and above was no longer sufficient, as younger age groups were increasingly affected.
According to him, stroke, also known as cardiovascular accident, and kidney failure are becoming more common, largely due to hypertension or poorly managed cases.
“The disturbing aspect is that young people below 20 years now make up a significant proportion of those with hypertension, which used to be rare in the past.
“The belief that hypertension is age-related and confined to older persons is being challenged by current realities,” he said.
Njelita explained that early onset of hypertension could damage vital organs, particularly the kidneys, contributing to the rising cases of renal failure among youths.
He stressed the need for timely management of stroke, describing it as a medical emergency that could result from bleeding in the brain or blockage of a major blood vessel.
“A stroke is a stroke; there is nothing like a partial stroke,” he emphasised.
The CMD also warned against the consumption of junk foods and sugary beverages, noting that refined sugar disrupts the body’s natural metabolic processes and leaves harmful substances in the system.
He advised regular health checks across all age groups and adoption of healthier lifestyles to curb the growing incidence of hypertension among young people.
