Alarming rise of heart disease among young people

The message from the Ministry of Health on the occasion of World Heart Day 2025 is both sobering and instructive. It underscores not only the scale of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Guyana but also highlights a troubling shift in its demographic profile. More than 9,700 citizens benefited from government-funded medical interventions for cardiac and other serious conditions between 2020 and 2024. This figure, accompanied by an investment of $4.2 billion, reflects commendable national efforts to improve healthcare access. Yet, while the numbers demonstrate expanded support, they also reveal the magnitude of the problem and the urgency of tackling its root causes.
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading global killer, responsible for nearly 17 million deaths annually. In Guyana, heart attacks and strokes continue to rank among the top ten causes of mortality. Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony’s reminder of these facts was not simply a statistical exercise but an urgent appeal to confront the risk factors that fuel these conditions. His warning carried particular weight when he drew attention to a growing trend, more young people are being diagnosed with heart disease. This development challenges entrenched perceptions that CVD is primarily a disease of older adults and forces a national reckoning with changing health realities.
The shift toward younger diagnoses should alarm medical professionals, and the wider public alike. The presence of heart disease in early adulthood or middle age suggests the cumulative impact of lifestyle choices, environmental pressures, and systemic gaps in prevention. Tobacco use, harmful alcohol consumption, poor diet, physical inactivity, and exposure to air pollution were all identified as key drivers of CVD. Each of these risk factors is deeply rooted in social and cultural habits, making them difficult to reverse. Nevertheless, they remain largely preventable.
The significance of this trend among younger populations cannot be overstated. Heart disease in earlier years robs families of their breadwinners, reduces economic productivity, and places an increasing burden on the healthcare system. It also signals a broader challenge for development, as a nation’s progress depends in large part on the health of its workforce.
The government has made notable strides in expanding treatment capacity. The rollout of the PAHO/WHO HEARTS programme to 247 health facilities, with a goal of reaching every centre by 2026, marks an important step toward improving hypertension management. Similarly, the adoption of updated national guidelines for cardiovascular care will strengthen standards across the healthcare system. These initiatives should be acknowledged as progress. However, treatment alone cannot resolve the crisis. Prevention remains the most cost-effective and impactful strategy.
Central to prevention is the promotion of healthier daily choices. The minister emphasized simple but powerful steps, 150 minutes of physical activity each week, balanced diets, avoiding tobacco, moderating alcohol, managing stress, and monitoring key health indicators such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar. These recommendations are not new, but their urgency grows sharper as younger patients increasingly face conditions once associated with later life. The challenge lies not in knowing what works, but in creating environments that enable citizens to adopt and sustain healthier behaviors.
This is where broader societal responsibility comes into focus. Workplaces, schools, community groups, and local authorities must all play a role in reshaping habits. Schools, for instance, should ensure that children are taught about healthy lifestyles as well as provided with opportunities for daily physical activity and access to nutritious meals. Employers should encourage wellness programs that reduce sedentary behavior and promote healthier eating.
The role of public awareness cannot be ignored. Campaigns must go beyond abstract warnings and demonstrate the real consequences of poor lifestyle choices. Just as importantly, they should highlight achievable, practical steps that individuals and families can take. Information is most effective when it empowers, rather than intimidates.
Addressing the rise of heart disease among young people requires decisive, coordinated action. Government investment in treatment is necessary and commendable, but it is only one part of the equation. Without a comprehensive push to tackle the root causes of cardiovascular disease, the trend will continue, with devastating implications for public health and national development.
World Heart Day is a timely reminder that the fight against cardiovascular disease cannot be delayed.