Health
PT Health Watch: Why high cholesterol is easy to miss but dangerous to ignore
Many people only discover they have high blood pressure or high blood sugar only after falling ill. But another major health risk often goes unnoticed because it rarely causes warning signs until serious complications develop.
High cholesterol is one of the leading risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, including heart attacks and strokes. Because it usually causes no symptoms, many people may be living with dangerously high cholesterol levels without knowing it.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), raised cholesterol is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, particularly heart attacks and stroke.
The organisation says that reducing saturated fats, eliminating industrial trans fats, eating a healthy diet, staying physically active and avoiding tobacco can help lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
The WHO also notes that cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death globally, accounting for an estimated 17.9 million deaths each year.
Similarly, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says high cholesterol often has no symptoms, making regular screening essential because many people only discover they have it after developing heart disease or suffering a stroke.
Although high cholesterol is often associated with older adults, health experts warn that changing lifestyles, unhealthy diets and physical inactivity are increasing the risk among younger people as well.
To better understand the hidden dangers of high cholesterol, PT HEALTH WATCH spoke with Happiness Akinde, a medical doctor, on who is most at risk, why regular screening matters and the everyday habits that could silently be increasing cholesterol levels.
Who is most at risk?
Mrs Akinde said that while anyone can develop high cholesterol, certain groups face a significantly higher risk.
According to her, these include people above the age of 40, those who are overweight or obese, and individuals living with diabetes, high blood pressure or kidney disease.
People with a family history of high cholesterol or early heart disease are also more likely to develop the condition.
She added that smoking and excessive alcohol consumption further increase the risk.
“Particularly in Nigeria, the increasing consumption of processed foods and increasingly sedentary lifestyles have made high cholesterol more common, even among younger adults,” she said.
Why screening matters
Mrs Akinde explained that many people mistakenly believe they would notice if their cholesterol levels were high.
However, she said high cholesterol is often described as a “silent condition” because it usually causes no symptoms.
“A person may feel completely healthy while cholesterol gradually builds up inside the arteries over many years. Many people only discover they have high cholesterol after developing complications such as a heart attack or stroke,” she said.
For this reason, she stressed the importance of routine cholesterol screening.
She advised that healthy adults should have their cholesterol checked at least once between the ages of 20 and 35, particularly if they have risk factors.
From the age of 40, she said cholesterol should generally be checked every four to six years, or more frequently for people living with diabetes, hypertension, obesity, those who smoke or have a family history of heart disease.
People already diagnosed with high cholesterol, she added, should follow their doctor’s recommendations for more frequent monitoring.
Health risks
Mrs Akinde explained that excess cholesterol gradually accumulates inside blood vessels, forming plaques that narrow and harden the arteries in a process known as atherosclerosis.
She said reduced blood flow to the heart can result in chest pain or a heart attack, while reduced blood flow to the brain can cause a stroke.
She added that high cholesterol also increases the risk of peripheral artery disease, which reduces blood flow to the legs, causing pain and poor wound healing.
Everyday habits that raise cholesterol
Mrs Akinde identified several lifestyle habits that contribute to high cholesterol.
These include eating large amounts of fried foods, fast foods, pastries, processed meats and foods rich in saturated or trans fats, alongside physical inactivity, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and being overweight.
She encouraged Nigerians to adopt healthier eating habits by consuming more vegetables, fruits, beans, lentils, whole grains and fish where affordable.
She also recommended boiling, grilling, steaming or baking foods instead of deep frying, while reducing the intake of fatty meat, processed foods and sugary drinks.
Beyond diet, she advised adults to engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity, such as brisk walking, every week, maintain a healthy weight, avoid smoking and limit alcohol consumption.
ALSO READ: PT Health Watch: Why routine medical check-ups are essential for everyone – Expert
Importantly, she noted that healthy eating does not always have to be expensive.
“Locally available foods such as beans, vegetables like ugwu and efo, okro, garden eggs, sweet potatoes, oats and fresh fruits can support heart health,” she said.
The danger of reusing cooking oil
Mrs Akinde also warned against repeatedly reheating cooking oil, a common practice in many homes and roadside food businesses.
According to her, every time cooking oil is heated to very high temperatures, it breaks down and forms harmful compounds, including oxidised fats, which may increase inflammation and raise the risk of heart disease.
She advised that cooking oil should be discarded once it becomes very dark, thick, develops a foul smell, produces excessive smoke or begins to foam during heating.
“Ideally, deep frying oil should not be reused many times, especially after prolonged or repeated high-heat frying,” she said.
Know your numbers
Mrs Akinde urged Nigerians not to wait until symptoms appear before paying attention to their heart health.
She advised Nigerians to know their health numbers before symptoms appear by checking their blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and weight regularly, even when they feel well, while maintaining a balanced diet and staying physically active.
In addition, she urged Nigerians to avoid smoking and going for regular medical check-ups, noting that small, consistent lifestyle changes can help prevent heart attacks and strokes.
“High cholesterol is silent, but its complications are not. Get tested, eat wisely, stay active and protect your heart.”
The federal government has called for increased African-led research, stronger partnerships and sustainable financing to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of hepatobiliary cancers.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, made the call at the fifth Africa Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Cancer Consortium (AHPBCC) Conference on Thursday in Abuja.
Mr Salako, who was represented by Ali Gombe, director of clinical services, National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), said African countries needed evidence that reflected their populations, disease patterns and health system realities to guide effective cancer interventions.
He called for greater investment in research covering epidemiology, risk factors, genetics, prevention, diagnosis and treatment, supported by cancer registries, clinical trials and collaborative research networks.
He also advocated the use of digital health, genomics, and artificial intelligence to strengthen cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance.
“Research should translate into affordable, accessible, sustainable interventions for African populations,” Mr Salako said, describing AHPBCC as a valuable platform for multidisciplinary collaboration.
He said Nigeria was strengthening cancer prevention and early detection while expanding diagnostic and treatment capacity under the National Strategic Cancer Control Plan.
According to him, cancer control required an integrated continuum covering risk reduction, health education, early diagnosis, referral, surgery, systemic therapy, radiotherapy, palliative care and survivorship.
Mr Salako said the government was strengthening financial protection through the National Cancer Health Fund, although hepatobiliary cancers were currently excluded, with plans to expand its coverage.
He also cited the Nigerian Cancer Access Partnership, which provides 50 to 60 per cent discounts on anti-cancer medicines, as well as plans for a catastrophic health fund.
He said prevention remained central, particularly through tobacco control, healthier lifestyles and control of viral infections associated with cancer.
“For liver cancer, particularly hepatitis, emphasis is placed on prevention and control of hepatitis B and C through vaccination, screening, diagnosis and treatment,” he said.
Mr Salako said Nigeria was also investing in specialists, laboratories, cancer treatment centres and research infrastructure, alongside mentorship, fellowships, specialised training and knowledge exchange.
He stressed that no country or institution could address the cancer burden alone, urging governments, researchers, academia, civil society, development partners and the private sector to work together.
Abdulfatai Olokoba, president, Society of Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Nigeria (SOGHIN), said the conference exemplified such partnerships among organisations working across the cancer and digestive disease fields.
Mr Olokoba said the collaboration brought together oncologists, surgeons, pathologists, radiologists, scientists, nurses and other specialists to improve knowledge and skills.
He said hepatobiliary cancers remained particularly challenging in Africa because of late presentation, limited resources and capacity gaps, as well as inadequate awareness.
According to him, the three-day meeting would examine prevention, treatment, research, survivorship, public health education, vaccination, surgical innovations and approaches tailored to African realities.
Lewis Roberts, president, African Institute for Liver and Digestive Diseases (AILDD), said hepatobiliary cancers often occurred at younger ages in Africa, resulting in substantial years of life lost.
Mr Roberts said prevention and early detection should remain priorities, noting that cancers diagnosed early were generally more treatable and less costly to manage.
He said conference workshops were examining earlier detection of bile duct, pancreatic and liver cancers using advanced endoscopic procedures, endoscopic ultrasound, ultrasound and FibroScan.
He said research should also explore blood-based methods that could detect cancers earlier without requiring patients to undergo more demanding procedures.
For patients diagnosed at advanced stages, Mr Roberts said research into tumour biology could enable targeted chemical and immune-based treatments tailored to individual cancers.
ALSO READ: Four in 10 cancers worldwide could be prevented, WHO warns
He, however, noted that the cost of some advanced treatments, including monoclonal antibodies, remained beyond the reach of many African health systems.
“We have to start now, and we have to start here,” he said, urging African scientists to develop solutions suited to the continent’s realities.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference, attended by more than 300 delegates from over 30 countries, focuses on prevention, treatment, research and survivorship for cancers affecting the liver, pancreas and biliary tract.
The conference, which began on Wednesday and ends on Saturday, brought together experts from Africa, the United States, Europe, Asia and other regions. (NAN)
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The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended a Phase III trial of an Ebola vaccine to test whether it can protect against Bundibugyo virus disease.
WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, disclosed this in a video posted on his official X account on Thursday.
Ghebreyesus said two vaccines specifically developed against the Bundibugyo virus had entered Phase I safety trials in humans. At the same time, new animal studies had shown promising evidence that Ervebo, an Ebola vaccine, could also provide cross-protection against the virus.
He said the findings prompted WHO to recommend Ervebo for inclusion in a Phase III trial, which the organisation hopes to begin as soon as possible.
However, it is not yet known whether Ervebo can protect humans against Bundibugyo virus disease.
Mr Ghebreyesus said the Phase III trial would help establish whether the vaccine is safe and effective and could provide evidence needed to make it available for the current outbreak and future outbreaks.
No licensed vaccines
The development comes as the Bundibugyo virus outbreak in the DRC has become the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record.
As of Thursday, the country had recorded 4,449 confirmed cases and 2,061 deaths across five provinces and 53 health zones, according to the WHO.
The health agency said the outbreak was spreading faster than any previous Ebola outbreak at the same stage and could surpass the 2014–2016 West African outbreak, which remains the largest on record, with more than 28,000 cases and 11,000 deaths reported in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Bundibugyo virus is one of the viruses in the Ebola family that can cause severe and often fatal disease in humans.
Unlike Ebola virus disease caused by the Ebola virus, there is currently no licensed vaccine specifically approved for the prevention of Bundibugyo virus disease.
WHO said in June that Ervebo, the only licensed and WHO-prequalified Ebola vaccine, is approved for Ebola virus disease but not for Bundibugyo virus disease.
The current outbreak was first detected in the DRC in May, following an unexplained cluster of deaths in Ituri Province that was investigated. Laboratory testing confirmed Bundibugyo virus disease, prompting the DRC government to declare its 17th Ebola outbreak.
Uganda also confirmed imported cases linked to the outbreak in the DRC. WHO subsequently determined that the outbreak in the two countries constituted a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
Previous Bundibugyo virus outbreaks have had case fatality rates between 30 and 50 per cent, according to the WHO.
PREMIUM TIMES reported on 9 August that WHO had already recommended Ervebo for evaluation in a randomised clinical trial after reviewing evidence suggesting that it could provide some protection against Bundibugyo virus.
Treatment advancement
Mr Ghebreyesus also disclosed progress in research into treatments for Bundibugyo virus disease.
He said a WHO-sponsored partners trial had reached 100 patients.
The trial is assessing potential treatments for the disease and is intended to generate evidence on which therapies can improve outcomes for infected patients.
READ ALSO: DRC Ebola outbreak becomes second-largest on record WHO
Mr Ghebreyesus said the milestone showed that research could be mobilised rapidly and responsibly even during a difficult outbreak.
He called on partners to support and accelerate the vaccine trial, while emphasising that the response requires collaboration among the DRC government, WHO, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other partners.
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