The British Heart Foundation (BHF), UK’s leading heart charity, has urged the Government to take ‘bold’ measures to reduce early death and disability from cardiovascular disease.
In a new report, ‘Heart Needs More,’ the charity has called for targeted measures that include reducing waits for heart treatment and care, addressing obesity and smoking, tackling health inequalities, and powering research and innovation.
Dr Charmaine Griffiths, BHF chief executive said: ‘We are witnessing an urgent heart crisis, and the devastating toll it’s having on people is one they are paying for with their lives. There is no time to waste. Early deaths from conditions like heart attack and stroke are rising, the NHS is facing unprecedented pressure, and we urgently need to find more revolutionary treatments and cures. A heart disease action plan has never been more needed.’
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According to the charity, in 2022 alone, 39,000 people in England died before turning 75 from cardiovascular conditions – the highest total since 2008. Doctors in the BHF estimate that the annual total of early deaths from cardiovascular disease could rise to 44,000 in 2035, if the premature death rate remained the same as it was in 2022.
One of the main measures proposed in the report is for food producers to put prominent warnings on cans, bottles and tins of products high in salts and sugars in order to alert people to the health risks. This also includes recommendations to ban junk food advertisements airing before the 9pm TV watershed, or online to billboards and radio.
The charity’s plea follows Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s commitment last week to take action to tackle deeply ingrained public health problems that cause disease, disability and death, such as by potentially banning smoking in some outdoor places.
While the BHF welcomed Labour’s move, it said that the Government must think more radically about prevention and early detection of cardiovascular disease.
‘There is a huge opportunity to reimagine cardiovascular disease prevention by leveraging science, AI and technology to transform the way we deliver preventive health care. This Government must also work to unleash the potential of our life sciences sector, to improve the nation’s heart health while simultaneously boosting growth with the right strategy and investment.’