High Blood Pressure Is More Than Stress: Cut Salt and Know Your Numbers

Stress can raise blood pressure temporarily, but hypertension has many causes. Age, family history, kidney disease, inactivity, excess weight, alcohol use and a high-sodium diet can all increase the risk. The World Health Organization estimates that about 22 million Nigerian adults aged 30–79 were living with hypertension in 2024, with many undiagnosed or uncontrolled. Too much sodium can make the body retain water and raise blood pressure. Adults should aim for less than 2,000 mg of sodium daily, or under 5 g of salt. This includes sodium from seasoning cubes, sauces, packaged snacks, processed foods and meals bought outside the home. Use herbs, ginger, garlic, onions, pepper and other spices to add flavour with less salt. High blood pressure often has no obvious symptoms, so regular checks matter. A normal reading while on treatment may mean the medication is working, not that it should be stopped. Check food labels, stay active, manage stress and follow medical advice. Repeated high readings should be assessed by a healthcare professional, while very high readings with chest pain, breathing difficulty or sudden weakness need urgent care.

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