A military cardiologist, Maj.-Gen. Life Ajemba, has raised the alarm over rising heart disease risk among military personnel and veterans, attributing it to hypertension, stress and other lifestyle factors.
Ajemba, who spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja, urged serving personnel and retirees to prioritise heart health through regular medical checks, exercise, healthy diets and adequate rest.
He said hypertension remains one of the most common cardiovascular conditions among serving personnel and military retirees, citing studies showing that hypertension accounted for 15.31 per cent of cases treated among mainly military retirees between 2015 and 2020.
He also referenced another study which found a hypertension prevalence of 34.3 per cent among military personnel.
According to him, major risk factors include alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking, family history of cardiovascular disease and being overweight.
He noted that the demanding nature of military service could further increase cardiovascular risks due to physical stress, psychological trauma, irregular schedules and inadequate sleep.
“Military duties affect heart health through a combination of extreme physical stress, psychological trauma and environmental exposures that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease,” he said.
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The cardiologist explained that prolonged stress could increase the release of hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, leading to increased heart rate and blood pressure, while sleep deprivation, anxiety and other psychological pressures could further raise the risk of hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart attack and stroke.
Ajemba stressed the importance of regular medical screening among military personnel, saying early detection could help identify silent conditions such as high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels and elevated blood sugar.
He said routine checks could include blood pressure and heart rate monitoring, blood tests, lipid profile, electrocardiogram (ECG), chest X-ray and echocardiography where necessary.
“Early detection ensures that soldiers receive treatment while remaining fit for duty, preventing medical evacuation and safeguarding their long-term health,” he said.
He also encouraged personnel to maintain regular physical exercise, noting that fitness helps reduce blood pressure, improve heart efficiency and increase resistance to operational fatigue, but advised that it must be combined with healthy eating, adequate rest and avoidance of smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.
According to him, maintaining a healthy lifestyle could help military personnel reduce cardiovascular risks and remain fit both during active service and after retirement.
