Abuja:The Nigerian Heart Foundation (NHF) has called on Nigerians, particularly the youth, to adopt healthy lifestyles to prevent heart disease and premature deaths. This appeal was made during a program organized by the NHF to mark the 2026 World Heart Day, themed ‘Don’t Miss a Beat.’
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Dr. Kingsley Akinroye, Executive Director of NHF, emphasized the significance of World Heart Day as a platform to raise awareness about heart disease and encourage protective measures for heart health. He underscored that the heart, as the body’s most crucial organ, functions from the womb until death, and adopting healthy lifestyles can prolong its functionality.
Akinroye highlighted that heart disease is a leading cause of death worldwide, often remaining unnoticed until it becomes severe. He stressed the importance of continuous awareness and early detection, noting that heart disease symptoms are frequently ignored or dismissed.
The 2026 campaign aims to extend heart health awareness from educational settings to families and communities, particularly targeting young people. Akinroye identified major risk factors for heart disease, including smoking, unhealthy diets, lack of physical activity, alcohol consumption, and air pollution. He encouraged regular physical activity, which can be easily integrated into daily routines, and cautioned against exposure to air pollution.
Akinroye also called for a national plan to address the growing cardiovascular burden and improve access to heart disease treatments, pointing out that some medications are costly, and accessibility needs improvement. He urged young Nigerians to advocate for better access to treatment and medicines.
This year’s World Heart Day activities are focused on schools to instill heart-health values in children. Akinroye stressed the importance of adopting preventive measures from a young age, encouraging students to share heart health knowledge with their communities and promote healthy diets in schools. He urged students to incorporate regular exercise into their daily lives, such as walking with their parents, to foster a healthy lifestyle.