Health experts raise concern over sudden deaths, prostate cancer

Medical professionals have expressed alarm over rising instances of sudden deaths among young Nigerians and the rising incidence of prostate cancer in men. At the 2026 Arise Women Conference, cardiologist Dr Jane Ajuluchukwu cautioned that cardiovascular diseases were claiming lives of young people, while urology professor Rufus Ojewola advised men over 40 to undergo regular prostate cancer screening.

Ajuduchukwu highlighted cardiovascular diseases as the cause of approximately 17 million deaths globally each year, with 25% of those being sudden deaths. She identified factors such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, physical inactivity and enlarged heart conditions as major risk factors. Men aged 40 and above, particularly those with a family history of sudden death, were urged to prioritize regular health checks.

Ojewola emphasized that prostate cancer could develop without symptoms, becoming fatal if detected late. He urged men over 40 to undergo regular screening, including prostate-specific antigen blood tests, scans and physical examinations by medical professionals. The professor dismissed myths about lifestyle choices causing or preventing prostate cancer and stressed that early detection and treatment could cure the disease.