‘Don’t Miss a Beat,’ A Cardiologist Urges Heart Health Awareness on World Heart Day
This World Heart Day, Dr. Sarita Rao, a city-based Se-nior Interventional Cardiologist is urging people to take charge of their heart health and spread aware-ness about the growing threat of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This year’s theme, “Don’t Miss a Beat,” highlights the importance of prevention, early detection, and equal ac-cess to treatment so that no life is lost unnecessarily.
Dr. Rao says, “Cardiovascular diseases remain the num-ber one cause of death worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, nearly 19.8 million people died from CVDs in 2022 alone. Heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure contribute to almost one-third of all global deaths, many of which could have been prevented with timely lifestyle changes and medical care.”
“The silent nature of these diseases makes them especially dangerous. Often, risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes go unnoticed until they cause seri-ous damage. That is why regular check-ups and early inter-vention are so important,” she shared.
As the Senior Interventional Cardiologist and Director of the Cathlab at Apollo Hospitals, Indore, Dr. Rao has dedi-cated her career to advancing heart care in India and abroad. She also serves as President of the WINCARS Association, Editor of the IJCDW Journal, and is actively involved in in-ternational cardiac associations, working to improve access to quality care across regions.
The global campaign this year focuses on four key ar-
eas of action:
Empowering individuals: People are encouraged to adopt heart-healthy habits, including a balanced diet, regu-lar physical activity, stress management, and avoiding harm-ful habits like smoking or excessive alcohol intake. These small, consistent steps can significantly lower the risk of heart disease.
Promoting early detection and care: Timely medical at-tention saves lives. Dr. Rao says that regular screenings help identify hidden risks before they escalate into life-threatening conditions. She advises people over the age of 30, especially those with a family history of heart disease, to get annual heart health check-ups.
Advocating for equitable access: World Heart Day also
focuses on breaking healthcare barriers. Millions of people, particularly women and those living in low- and middle-income countries, struggle to access proper cardiac care. Dr. Rao, who serves on several international cardiac commit-tees, believes that policies must ensure equal access to pre-ventive care and treatment. “Heart health should not be a privilege. Every individual deserves the chance to live a healthy life,” she adds.
Raising awareness and driving action: The campaign calls on communities, schools, workplaces, and social plat-forms to spread awareness about heart health. From educa-tional programs to fitness drives, every effort counts in re-ducing the global burden of CVDs.
Dr. Rao emphasizes that heart care begins at home. Fami-lies play a crucial role in encouraging one another to eat healthy, stay active, and manage stress together. She notes that children, too, should be introduced early to the impor-tance of physical fitness and balanced nutrition, as habits
Dr Sarita Rao
formed young often last a lifetime.
Reflecting on this year’s theme, Dr. Sarita Rao says, “Your heart beats for you every moment of your life. It is time we start lis-tening to it and caring for it with the seriousness it de-serves.” She urges citizens to make World Heart Day not just a symbolic occasion, but a turning point to adopt a healthier way of living.
On this World Heart Day, Dr. Rao appeals to the public to remember that prevention is always better than cure. “Don’t wait for a wake-up call. Care for your heart today so that it never misses a beat tomorrow,” she concludes.
For more information contact:
Dr Sarita Rao, Senior Interventional Cardiologist, Director Cathlab, Apollo Hospitals, Indore
Mob: +91 8959907706