ABUJA, Nigeria – Medical experts have warned about the growing incidence of sudden deaths among young people and the burden of prostate cancer among Nigerian men, urging the public to prioritise routine health checks and early medical intervention.
The experts spoke at the 2026 Arise Women Conference, where cardiologist Dr Jane Ajuluchukwu highlighted the growing risk of cardiovascular diseases, while Professor of Urology Rufus Ojewola urged men aged 40 and above to undergo regular prostate cancer screening.
Ajuluchukwu said cardiovascular diseases account for about 17 million deaths globally each year, according to the World Health Organisation, adding that sudden deaths account for approximately 25 per cent of the figure. She expressed concern that more young people were dying suddenly, attributing the trend to the increasing prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors.
“The trend is increasing. It is because the risk factors are increasing. And what is worrisome is that many people who are dying suddenly are young,” she said.
The cardiologist described sudden death as an unexpected, non-violent or non-traumatic death occurring within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms. She said deaths occurring within an hour were more likely to be cardiac-related. She identified hypertension, diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, physical inactivity and enlarged heart conditions as major risk factors.
Ajuluchukwu also advised people with a family history of sudden death, particularly those whose close relatives died before the age of 50, to pay closer attention to their cardiovascular health. Citing a study, she said men were more likely than women to experience sudden death, particularly after the age of 40, and urged Nigerians to make regular health checks a priority around that age.
She attributed some men’s reluctance to seek medical attention to cultural expectations that discourage them from acknowledging illness. “Go to the mortuary, there are more men there. I will say it is not women that are killing them. It is men that are killing themselves because they are not paying enough attention to their health,” she said.
She urged men to take their health seriously rather than concentrating solely on their responsibilities to their families. Ajuluchukwu identified chest discomfort, unusual tiredness, fainting and pain extending to the jaw or arm as possible warning signs of a heart attack.
She cautioned against dismissing unusual chest or abdominal discomfort as an ulcer, noting that heart attack symptoms did not always present as severe chest pain. The cardiologist advised Nigerians to monitor their blood pressure and blood glucose levels, take prescribed medication and seek medical attention when they experience unusual symptoms.
She also urged the public to recognise stroke warning signs, including facial drooping, arm weakness and difficulty speaking, and seek emergency medical care without delay. She identified 112 as Nigeria’s emergency number. On prostate cancer, Ojewola advised men aged 40 and above to undergo regular screening, warning that the disease could develop without noticeable symptoms and become fatal when detected late.
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