A Call for Heart Health

On World Heart Day 2025, India must confront its silent cardiac epidemic—by combining awareness, prevention, technology, and policy to protect every heartbeat

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Every heartbeat is a quiet miracle. It happens over 1,00,000 times a day — a silent rhythm that keeps us alive. Yet this miracle is being silenced far too soon, and far too often. As we mark World Heart Day on September 29, 2025, we are reminded that cardiovascular disease accounts for approximately 31 per cent of all deaths in our nation, with noncommunicable diseases together causing over 65 per cent of total mortality.

Behind this grim reality lie tens of millions of people silently living with high blood pressure, diabetes, or obesity, often without even knowing the risks they face.

‘The magnitude of this challenge is undeniable. Estimates suggest that about 220 million Indian adults have high blood pressure, but only one in ten has it under control. More than 100 million already suffer from diabetes, while another 135-140 million are prediabetic, carrying a hidden risk of future cardiac complications. Over 30 per cent of urban adults are overweight or obese, and these conditions, once more prevalent in cities, are now rising in rural areas as well. Physical inactivity adds to the burden, with 44 per cent of adults failing to meet the recommended 150 minutes of exercise per week. These risk factors, many of which remain undiagnosed, significantly increase the likelihood of heart disease.