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Heart disease remains Maldives' top killer

Mohamed Visham
29 September 2016, MVT 16:16
A man gets a check up at ADK's cardiac centre. MIHAARU PHOTO/NISHAN ALI
Mohamed Visham
29 September 2016, MVT 16:16

Similar to most countries throughout the globe, heart disease still claims more lives in the Maldives, statistics show.

Statistics publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) on the occasion of World Heart Day show that half of the people who suffer from heart disease are aged between 36-65 years.

The rate with which heart disease claimed lives over the past few years shows no sign of slowing down.

But HPA said almost 80 percent of the deaths could have been avoided with preventive care, consistent daily exercise and healthy eating.

Privately run ADK hospital which opened a state of the art cardiac centre three years ago says around 20-25 people seek medical care from the centre daily.

The statistics also show that smoking and unhealthy eating habits were the lead cause of heart disease in the Maldives.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has set a target to reduce mortality from four major preventable diseases – diabetes, cancer, chronic lung disease and cardiovascular disease – by 25 per cent by 2025, against 2010 levels.

According to WHO an estimated 17.3 million people die each year from various cardio vascular diseases.

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