World Heart Day 2025: A call for proactive heart health in India
On World Heart Day 2025, Apollo Hospitals is urging every Indian to “not miss a beat” and make heart-healthy living a daily discipline. The theme, Dont Miss a Beat, spotlights prevention-first healthcare, closing care gaps, and timely screening across all ages. Cardiovascular disease remains a leading killer, yet many deaths are preventable with early detection and sustained lifestyle changes.
Apollo’s Health of the Nation 2025 study underscores the urgency: silent risks are widespread. Artery calcification, fatty liver, and sleep apnea are being detected even in people without symptoms. Post-menopausal women face higher cardiovascular risk, necessitating tailored screening. Nutritional deficiencies—vitamin D and B12, along with anemia—can sap energy, making regular physical activity harder to sustain. Alarmingly, inactivity among teenagers is shaping weaker flexibility, strength, and balance before age 25, laying groundwork for future heart disease.
Regional trends across Apollo’s network
The study maps several regional patterns that demand targeted action:
Delhi-NCR: hypertension prevalence is rising, with fatty liver detected in 65% of those screened.
Mumbai: 46% of asymptomatic individuals showed coronary calcium; 25% already had obstructive CAD, and 2.5% were under 40.
Chennai: 29% were diabetic and 37% pre-diabetic, indicating shifting metabolic risk in urban populations.
Bengaluru: early-age hypertension and dyslipidemia are driven by sedentary indoor work hours, underscoring the impact of modern work culture on heart health.
Hyderabad: over 80% of those with fatty liver were diabetic, and three-fourths of hypertensives had fatty liver, signaling a close link between liver and cardiovascular risk.
Kolkata: hypertension and diabetes co-exist with hidden anemia and micronutrient deficiencies, complicating disease management.
Lucknow: risk begins early, with 28% of college students overweight and 19% pre-hypertensive, highlighting the need for early prevention.
Apollo’s leadership in comprehensive cardiac care
India’s pioneer in comprehensive cardiac care since 1983, Apollo Hospitals has consistently set benchmarks in outcomes and innovation. The network has performed over 300,000 heart surgeries with a 99.6% survival rate, completed more than 500 robotic cardiac procedures, and executed 500+ TAVI interventions. A dedicated team of over 375 cardiologists leads care, research, and education—keeping India at the forefront of heart health.
“When we founded Apollo Hospitals, our purpose was simple: to save hearts and lives and restore hope. Four decades later, the science is clear – waiting for symptoms is waiting too long. Don’t Miss a Beat is a call to every Indian household to know your blood pressure and your numbers, sleep well, be active, and seek timely medical advice. As a pioneer in cardiac care, Apollo brings trusted clinicians and advanced, data-led tools together so that risk is found early and treatment is precise. If India embraces prevention as a daily discipline, we will add millions of healthy years and spare millions of families’ needless loss – one heartbeat at a time,”
— Dr Prathap C Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group
What individuals and families can do now
World Heart Day 2025 emphasizes concrete, everyday actions that reduce risk and boost resilience. Practical steps include:
- Know your numbers: blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, vitamin D and B12 status, ferritin/iron levels, and liver health indicators.
- Be active: aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise weekly, plus strength work two days a week.
- Sleep well: prioritize 7–9 hours of quality sleep for cardiovascular recovery.
- Eat mindfully: a heart-healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
- Quit tobacco and limit alcohol; manage stress through mindfulness and social support.
- Screen early and regularly: age-appropriate risk assessments and screenings with a trusted healthcare provider.
For families and workplaces, Apollo advocates prevention-first policies, routine screening programs, and accessibility to cardiac care. Early detection means timely treatment, reduced hospitalizations, and healthier, longer lives for millions of Indians.
The road ahead for India’s heart health
As India marks World Heart Day 2025, Apollo Hospitals reaffirms its commitment to protecting every heartbeat through access, equity, and prevention. The goal is clear: every beat matters, and prevention is within reach for every age group. By fostering awareness, expanding screening, and delivering precise, data-driven care, Apollo believes India can add millions of healthy years to its citizens’ lives.
In the end, the message is simple: don’t wait for symptoms. Don’t miss a beat. Take action today to secure a healthier tomorrow for your family and your community.
