New Delhi : Heart diseases lead deaths in South-East Asia, with the condition killing eight people every minute, said the World Health Organization (WHO) on Saturday, ahead of World Heart Day.
World Heart Day occurs every year on September 29 to raise awareness about heart diseases and highlight the importance of early detection to save and improve more lives. This year, the theme is ‘Don’t Miss a Beat’.
“Every minute, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) claim eight lives in the WHO South-East Asia Region. Moreover, CVDs rank among the leading causes of death here, and half occur prematurely in people under 70 years of age,” said Dr Catharina Boehme, Officer-in-Charge, WHO South-East Asia.
Major risk factors for CVDs include hypertension, diabetes, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, diets high in salt and fats, and physical inactivity. Additionally, these factors combine to increase vulnerability.
“As many as 85 per cent of people living with hypertension and diabetes in the region do not control their conditions,” Boehme said.
“Coupled with ageing populations and rising urbanisation, populations face increasing vulnerability to CVDs, which, in turn, puts pressure on health systems already stretched for resources,” she added.
The expert highlighted that policy measures and clinical interventions by countries showed encouraging progress over the last two years. For instance, public health facilities now treat over 90 million people with hypertension and diabetes following protocol-based management as of June 2025,” Boehme said.
She also pointed out gaps, including inadequate fiscal and regulatory measures, weak policy enforcement, and poor monitoring of marketing, packaging, and advertising bans on unhealthy commodities, which, therefore, slow progress.
Urging increased public awareness, she called for a whole-of-society approach to tackle CVDs. Specifically, “For individuals, quitting tobacco, reducing salt intake, exercising daily, and managing stress remain vital for a healthy heart. For governments and policymakers, implementing salt-reduction measures, removing industrially produced trans-fats from national food supplies, and enforcing comprehensive tobacco control laws should be top priorities,” Boehme said.
–IANS
