A consultant cardiologist, Professor Chizindu Alikor, voiced deep concern regarding the increasing rate of high blood pressure among young Nigerians, cautioning that hypertension is “no longer an ailment exclusive to the elderly” as diagnoses are now frequently occurring even in 18-year-olds.
Professor Alikor issued this caution on Wednesday during the 123rd Inaugural Lecture at the Rivers State University (RSU), presenting on the theme: “The Silent Active Engine Bearing Weights of Human Sufferings: The Battle to Stay Alive.”
In clarifying his lecture’s theme, Professor Alikor, who also serves as the Chief Medical Director at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), described the heart as “the silent active engine” that sustains human life relentlessly despite facing immense strain.
He pointed out that individual lifestyle choices currently pose the most significant danger to cardiac well-being.
He stated that “Lifestyle decisions affect the heart,” emphasizing that dietary habits, stress, excessive intake of salt, high consumption of refined sugar, weight gain, inadequate management of diabetes, and unaddressed high blood pressure are primary factors contributing to the rising burden of cardiovascular illnesses.
He termed these factors “components in the domains of suffering that impact negatively on the human heart.”
To tackle this problem, the cardiologist introduced the “Alikor Survival Network Model,” a comprehensive strategy that engages the individual, their family, and the healthcare system to ensure better cardiac care.
Increasing Hypertension in Young Adults and Rural Communities
Professor Alikor, who also holds the title of President of the Nigerian Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, shared results from research conducted with collaborators over 20 years ago, which already indicated a high occurrence of cardiovascular risk factors within the Niger Delta region.
More concerning, however, is the escalating pattern of hypertension in rural areas and among young individuals.
He revealed that the clustering of cardiovascular risk factors among people aged 18 to 39 is as high as 15%, calling this tendency “worrisome.”
He also pondered what the situation might be like in urban settings, where modernization and evolving lifestyles have eroded traditional diets and physical activity.
He noted, “Urbanization has eliminated the traditional diet and walking and has led us toward a sedentary existence.”
Professor Alikor added that the study further demonstrated that men exhibit a higher frequency of combined cardiovascular risk factors.
Hypertension, Heart Failure, and Stroke Dominate Niger Delta Cases
According to Professor Alikor, heart failure and stroke remain the most frequently observed cardiovascular complications in hospitalized patients across the Niger Delta.
He advised that symptoms like palpitations should never be overlooked, describing them as indicators of cardiac stress that require immediate assessment by a cardiologist.
The cardiologist stressed that survival relies on shared accountability.
He insisted, “The fight to remain alive is a shared enterprise and not just an individual effort,” maintaining that when applied, the Alikor Heart Survival Network Model can safeguard both individuals and communities.
He identified diet as the primary defense mechanism, observing: “Consumption of foods rich in vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains is beneficial.”
He warned: “Diets high in salt, trans fat, and refined sugar are detrimental to the silent active engine (the heart).”
Alikor urged Nigerians to “be aware of your vital numbers, including blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels.”
He alarmingly noted: “In our investigation, we established that even among highly educated people, they are going about with blood pressure readings of 200/150; very knowledgeable university professors just walking around.”
He recommended consistent monitoring at home, suggesting: “You should possess your own blood pressure monitors, the electronic, quality ones… Keep one in your office, keep one by your bedside, and check your blood pressure regularly.”
Citing a religious text, he said “Luke 22:44 has cardiovascular implications,” highlighting the physical strain the heart endures.
Processed Foods and Reduced Physical Activity are Driving a Future Crisis
Professor Alikor cautioned that changes in disease patterns (epidemiologic transition) and alterations in lifestyle—including the shift toward fast foods and prepared meals—are accelerating cardiovascular risks.
He lamented that traditional habits, such as diets rich in vegetables and extensive walking, have been abandoned due to Western influence. He warned that without deliberate interventions, “in the next 10 to 20 years, there will be a shocking increase in heart attacks and stroke.”
To mitigate this impending crisis, he introduced the “Alikor Health Care Survival Model.”
Earlier in the event, the Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University, Professor Isaac Zeb-Obipi, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to tackling societal issues through research and intellectual discourse.
He observed that problems such as poor infrastructure, joblessness, poverty, and diseases are compounded by daily stress and unhealthy living patterns.
Professor Zeb-Obipi added that these elements put strain on essential organs, including the heart, ultimately decreasing productivity.
The VC stated that the university’s tradition of inaugural lectures is intended to offer enduring solutions to such critical national challenges.
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