Medics sound alarm over growing cases of heart attacks
Cardiologists in Kenya are raising alarms over the rising prevalence of heart failure, driven by lifestyle factors like hypertension, obesity, and diabetes. Experts are calling for increased public education and better local data collection to address this growing health crisis.
Why it matters
Heart failure is becoming a major public health burden in developing nations, necessitating urgent shifts in lifestyle and healthcare infrastructure.
Doctors warn over rising heart failure cases in Kenya. [iStockphoto] Heart failure is emerging as one of Kenya's biggest cardiovascular health challenges, fuelled by rising cases of high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and other lifestyle-related risk factors. Cardiologists have warned that unless the country intensifies public education on heart diseases and the risk factors, Kenyans would continue to grapple with rising cases and the growing health burden. The experts spoke at a Mombasa hotel during the Kenya Cardiac Society (KCS) 43rd annual scientific congress. They also called for greater investment in locally generated research and expanded access to cardiovascular medicines , saying Kenya lacks sufficient national data to accurately measure the burden of heart disease. "Heart failure is a disease where the heart becomes weak. People struggle to breathe, and it can be caused by many things," said KCS president Dr Mzee Ngunga.
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