A military cardiologist, Maj.-Gen. Life Ajemba, has urged serving military personnel and veterans to prioritise their heart health, warning that hypertension, prolonged stress, poor sleep and unhealthy lifestyle habits can increase cardiovascular risks.
Ajemba gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Wednesday, stressing the importance of regular medical checks, physical activity, healthy nutrition and adequate rest.
He identified hypertension as one of the major cardiovascular conditions affecting military personnel and retirees, citing studies that reported a 34.3 per cent prevalence among military personnel and a 15.31 per cent share of cases treated among mainly military retirees between 2015 and 2020.
Ajemba said the demanding nature of military service could increase cardiovascular risks because of intense physical activity, 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.
The cardiologist explained that prolonged stress could increase the release of hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, contributing to increased heart rate and blood pressure.
He added that sleep deprivation, anxiety and other psychological pressures could further increase 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 medical checks could include blood pressure and heart rate monitoring, blood tests, lipid profiles, electrocardiograms, chest X-rays 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.
The military cardiologist also encouraged personnel to maintain regular physical exercise, saying fitness could help reduce blood pressure, improve heart efficiency and increase resistance to operational fatigue.
He, however, advised personnel to combine physical fitness with healthy eating, adequate rest and avoidance of smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.
Ajemba said maintaining a healthy lifestyle could help military personnel reduce cardiovascular risks and remain fit both during active service and after retirement.
The warning comes against the background of evidence linking hypertension and cardiovascular disease to several preventable risk factors, including physical inactivity, unhealthy diets, tobacco use, harmful alcohol consumption and excess body weight.
For military personnel, Ajemba’s advice highlights the additional importance of managing occupational pressures, irregular schedules and sleep disruption alongside conventional cardiovascular risk factors.
He urged personnel and veterans to make regular health checks part of their routine and not wait until symptoms develop before seeking medical attention.
