Dr. Hafiz Adams, Acting Director at the Technical Coordination of the Ministry of Health, has stated that hypertension remained a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).

He noted that the non-communicable disease (NCD) posed a serious threat, with 34 percent of Ghanaian adults over 18 diagnosed with high blood pressure.

Speaking at the National Launch of the 2024 World Heart Day in Accra, Dr. Adams said that many cases of hypertension go undiagnosed or are poorly managed.

He said the situation posed a potential crisis for future cardiovascular events, including strokes and heart attacks, noting, “The prevalence of unhealthy lifestyles, including smoking, poor diets, and physical inactivity, contributes significantly to this rising burden.”

The Day was launched under the theme “Use Heart for Action.”

The event brought together healthcare workers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to urgently address the cardiovascular diseases threatening the population, particularly among the youth.

Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, a prominent Ghanaian cardiothoracic surgeon, stated that 80 percent of premature CVD deaths are preventable through lifestyle changes.

He emphasised the importance of diet, noting that high consumption of unhealthy fats, salt, and sugars was associated with heart disease.

Prof. Frimpong-Boateng added that eating a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables could significantly reduce the risk of CVD.

“Stress, popularly known as the ‘Silent Killer,’ increases the chances of heart diseases, and that long-term exposure to stress hormones causes damage to 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, stated that CVDs were the leading cause of death worldwide, with over 17.9 million people dying from them each year, representing 32 percent of all global mortality.

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

Across the Sub-region, about 37 percent of adult deaths are linked to non-communicable diseases.

The Minister said that estimates from the World Health Organization indicate that NCDs account for over 43 percent of total deaths in Ghana, with CVDs alone responsible for approximately 18 percent of those fatalities.

He said that the government would maintain its focus on non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, within the national health agenda and would coordinate and allocate the necessary financial and human resources to tackle the escalating crisis.