Heart disease is still the world’s biggest killer, and this year’s World Heart Day asks people not to ignore the warning signs.
World Heart Day is marked today, September 29, with a message that is simple to remember and easy to brush aside. The World Heart Federation’s campaign this year is “Don’t Miss a Beat,” reminding all that heart disease often builds quietly, with symptoms people explain away until something serious happens.
The figures behind the campaign are hard to ignore. Cardiovascular disease, the group of conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels, killed an estimated 19.8 million people in 2022, the World Health Organization says. That is roughly one in every three deaths worldwide. Heart attacks and strokes caused 85 percent of them.
The burden is not shared evenly. More than three quarters of these deaths happen in low- and middle-income countries, where regular screening and early treatment are harder to reach. Many of them are also premature. Of the 18 million people who died of noncommunicable diseases before the age of 70 in 2021, at least 38 percent died of cardiovascular disease.
World Heart Day Theme “Don’t Miss a Beat” Puts Warning Signs in Focus
The federation says many signs of heart disease go unnoticed until it is too late, and that the condition can affect anyone, regardless of age, fitness or lifestyle. This year’s campaign points to three groups in particular: young people with congenital heart disease that was never diagnosed, women whose symptoms are more often overlooked, and people living with high blood pressure that is not under control.
Knowing the signs matters. A heart attack commonly causes pain or pressure in the center of the chest, which can spread to the arms, left shoulder, elbows, jaw or back. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, feeling lightheaded, breaking into a cold sweat and turning pale. Women are more likely than men to experience breathlessness, nausea, and back or jaw pain rather than the classic chest pain.
High blood pressure is harder to catch because it usually causes no symptoms at all. That is why doctors stress routine checks of blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, even for people who feel perfectly well. Anyone who experiences possible heart attack symptoms should seek emergency care straight away.
World Heart Day was established in 1999 by the World Heart Federation in collaboration with the WHO and was first observed in 2000. It has been held on September 29 every year since 2012.
Heart Disease in Pakistan Has Nearly Doubled in Three Decades
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and disability in Pakistan, and the numbers have climbed steeply. An analysis of Global Burden of Disease data found that yearly deaths from heart and blood vessel disease rose from about 172,500 in 1990 to about 341,100 in 2019. Over the same period, the number of people living with cardiovascular disease more than doubled, from 4.1 million to 8.6 million.
Ischemic heart disease, caused by narrowed arteries that reduce blood flow to the heart, was the single biggest contributor. It accounted for more than half of all cardiovascular deaths in the country in 2019, or about 183,400 lives. High blood pressure was the leading driver of these deaths, followed by high levels of LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol.
The risk factors are widespread. About 37 percent of adults in Pakistan have high blood pressure, the age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes stands at 30.8 percent, and roughly one in four adult men smoke. In a national socioeconomic registry survey covering 34 million households, 18.9 percent of respondents reported having a cardiovascular condition.
Access to care remains a challenge, with about 1.09 doctors for every 1,000 people. Still, there has been progress. Pakistan’s southern province of Sindh has built a network of cardiac hospitals, with nine satellite centers linked to the flagship National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases in Karachi. In the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, early reports showed cardiovascular care accounting for the highest number of health insurance claims, a sign of how much demand exists.
UAE Hospitals Offer Free and Low-Cost Heart Screenings for World Heart Day
In the UAE, several healthcare providers are using World Heart Day to encourage residents to get checked. NMC Healthcare is offering free screenings at select hospitals, medical centers and community locations across the country. Visitors can have their blood pressure, body mass index, cholesterol and blood sugar tested, with consultations with specialists available where needed.
NMC specialists are also on hand to advise on nutrition, exercise, stress management and everyday habits that support heart health. “At NMC, prevention is the first step to protection,” said Dr. Zaka ullah Khan, the group’s chief clinical officer.
Medcare Hospitals & Medical Centres is running heart screening packages across Dubai and Sharjah until September 30. The AED 99 Essential Heart Screening checks nine clinical parameters and is available at Medcare Royal Speciality Hospital in Al Qusais, Medcare Hospital Sharjah and 24 Medcare medical centers. At Medcare Hospital Al Safa, an AED 199 AI screening uses retinal imaging to flag health risks, while an AED 299 package combines an AI-powered blood test covering 32 clinical parameters with a doctor’s consultation.
Abu Dhabi has also long run its Weqaya screening program, which assesses residents’ risk of developing cardiovascular disease. With screenings widely available this week, residents who have not had their heart health checked in a while have an easy opportunity to start.
Simple Ways to Protect Your Heart
Most heart disease is linked to risk factors that can be prevented or managed. These everyday habits make a real difference:
- Eat a balanced diet: Fill your plate with fruit, vegetables, whole grains and legumes, and cut back on fried and processed food.
- Reduce salt: Too much salt raises blood pressure, so check labels and go easy on the salt shaker.
- Stay active: Build movement into your day, whether it is a brisk walk, a workout or taking the stairs.
- Quit tobacco: Smoking and other tobacco use damage blood vessels, and the heart starts to benefit soon after quitting.
- Limit alcohol: Cutting back lowers the strain on the heart and helps control blood pressure.
- Maintain a healthy weight: Carrying extra weight, especially around the waist, raises the risk of heart disease.
- Get regular checkups: Know your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar numbers, even if you feel healthy.
- Look after your mental health: Ongoing stress and poor sleep can take a toll on the heart, so make time to rest and unwind.
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