The Nigerian Heart Foundation says more than 235,000 Nigerians die from cardiovascular diseases every year.

The Foundation gave the figure while marking the 2026 World Heart Day in Lagos, stressing that many heart conditions can develop silently from childhood into adulthood.

Its Executive Director, Dr Kingsley Akinroye, urged Nigerians to undergo regular medical checks, particularly blood pressure checks, and adopt healthier lifestyles from an early age.

He identified tobacco use, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, harmful alcohol consumption and air pollution as major risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

The Foundation also advised families to reduce excessive salt consumption, encourage regular exercise and ensure children develop healthy eating habits.

It called for increased government investment in heart disease prevention, affordable treatment and local production of cardiovascular medicines.