A Professor of Cardiology and Anglican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Rt. Rev. Samuel Ike, has identified unhealthy lifestyle choices, inadequate access to healthcare, and poor awareness of warning signs as major drivers of the rising rate of sudden deaths in Nigeria.
He made this assertion while delivering a public lecture titled “The Menace of Sudden Death in Our Society: What Can We Do?” on Monday in Enugu. The event was organised by the College of Medicine, Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), in collaboration with the Enugu State Government.
According to Voice of the people (VOP), the lecture aimed to raise public awareness about the increasing cases of sudden death and highlight prevention and post-event response strategies.
Prof. Ike warned that the adoption of foreign diets over traditional Nigerian foods has contributed to health complications. He advised citizens to steer clear of junk food and embrace healthier diets rich in fruits and vegetables.
He defined sudden cardiac death as a natural, unexpected death from heart-related causes, usually occurring within an hour of the onset of symptoms such as chest pain, irregular heartbeat, and difficulty breathing. He noted that timely intervention can reverse acute cardiovascular collapse.
“People should watch for warning signs like chest or arm pain and regularly monitor their weight and pulse. Risky habits such as smoking, alcohol abuse, use of hard drugs, and both lack of exercise and extreme physical exertion like heavy weightlifting can trigger sudden death,” he said.
He listed additional risk factors including diabetes, obesity, heart failure, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, hypertension, stroke, and aortic complications. Other triggers include cold exposure, emotional extremes, depression, nighttime seizures, overeating, asthma, pregnancy complications, head injuries, and abortion.
He observed that men are more often affected due to their tendency to ignore symptoms and avoid medical care. He cited autopsy data from the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) between 2007 and 2018 showing that 13.6% of deaths were classified as sudden, and only 8 of 29 cases reached the hospital in time.
To combat the trend, Prof. Ike recommended policy reforms, improved hospital equipment, public education through mass media, the creation of emergency response systems, and the provision of toll-free helplines.
In a related presentation titled “Sudden Death Case Presentation and Post-Event Management”, Prof. Robsam Ohayi, a forensic and anatomical pathology expert, urged families to seek autopsies and toxicology tests to determine exact causes of death, including potential genetic factors. He also called on the Enugu State Government to establish a toxicology laboratory.
Representing Governor Peter Mbah, Commissioner for Health Dr. George Ugwu announced ongoing construction of 260 primary health centres across the state’s 260 political wards. “Enugu is investing heavily in healthcare. We aim to set a model for others to follow,” he said.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Yomi Jaiye, disclosed that CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) equipment and training would be introduced in all primary health centres.
“When someone collapses, they are not yet dead—the blood flow to their brain has only stopped. Timely CPR can revive them,” he explained.
The Vice-Chancellor of ESUT, Prof. Aloysius Okolie, noted that sudden death may also result from non-medical causes such as poverty and depression.
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