How Junk Food, Alcohol, Tobacco, Drugs Are Killing Nigerians - Experts
Health experts in Nigeria are warning that the rising consumption of processed foods, alcohol, tobacco, and drugs is driving a surge in chronic non-communicable diseases. These lifestyle-related illnesses are increasingly affecting all demographics, placing a significant strain on the nation's healthcare system.
Why it matters
The shift from infectious diseases to lifestyle-driven chronic conditions represents a major public health crisis that threatens to overwhelm developing healthcare infrastructures.
The everyday choices many Nigerians make about what they eat, drink, smoke and consume are increasingly posing a serious threat to their health and survival. From highly processed foods and sugary drinks to excessive alcohol consumption, tobacco use and drug abuse, unhealthy lifestyles are taking a heavy toll on the body, fuelling chronic diseases, damaging vital organs and contributing to premature deaths. PATIENCE IVIE IHEJIRIKA writes that while the effects of these habits may remain hidden for years, their consequences are increasingly visible in Nigeria’s rising burden of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, respiratory illnesses, and liver and kidney disorders.
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