A Consultant Cardiologist, Gerald Edeh, has identified stress as a major cause of high blood pressure and sudden death among Nigerian adults.
Mr Edeh, who works with the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos State.
He said high blood pressure is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, particularly stroke and heart attack, which are very common leading causes of death in the society now.
“Research suggests that long-term anxiety or emotional stress can increase the risk for sudden cardiac death,” he said.
“For a person living with chronic stress, the result can be chest pain, irregular heartbeats, shortness of breath, and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.”
The cardiologist noted that mental health instability, often triggered by the economic situation and hardships in the country, could equally cause high blood pressure.
