Author: Patrick Ofoe Boring

Accra, September 29, GNA – Dr. Hafiz Adams, Acting Director, Technical Coordination, Ministry of Health, has stated that hypertension remains a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD).

He noted that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) pose a serious threat, with 34 percent of Ghanaian adults over the age of 18 diagnosed with high blood pressure.

Speaking at the national launch of World Heart Day 2024 in Accra, Dr Adams said many cases of hypertension go undiagnosed or are poorly treated.

He said the situation creates a potential crisis for future cardiovascular events, including strokes and heart attacks, noting: “The prevalence of unhealthy lifestyles, including smoking, poor diet and physical inactivity, contribute significantly to this growing burden.”

The day began with the slogan “Use your heart for action.”

The event brought together healthcare professionals, policymakers and other stakeholders to urgently address cardiovascular diseases that threaten the population, especially among young people.

Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, a prominent heart surgeon from Ghana, stated that 80 percent of premature deaths from cardiovascular diseases can be prevented through lifestyle changes.

He stressed the importance of diet, noting that high consumption of unhealthy fats, salt and sugars is linked to heart disease.

Prof. Frimpong-Boateng added that eating a balanced diet rich in fruit and vegetables can significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

“Stress, popularly known as the ‘silent killer,’ increases the risk of heart disease, and long-term exposure to stress hormones damages the heart by raising blood pressure, increasing heart rate and causing inflammation.

“Long-term stress affects mental health, leading to anxiety and depression,” he noted.

Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye, Minister of Health, has stated that cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the world, with over 17.9 million people dying from them every year, accounting for 32 percent of the total global mortality.

He noted that about three-quarters of these fatalities occurred in low- and middle-income countries, including Ghana and its West African neighbors.

Across the subregion, approximately 37 percent of adult deaths are related to non-communicable diseases.

The minister said World Health Organization estimates show that non-communicable diseases account for over 43 percent of all deaths in Ghana, with cardiovascular diseases alone responsible for about 18 percent of these deaths.

He said the government would continue to focus on non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, under the National Health Action Program and would coordinate and allocate the necessary financial and human resources to deal with the escalating crisis.

GNA