Don't ignore any warning signs of heart disease: Health Minister

Around 3 lakh people die from heart disease every year, h

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain has urged people to seek immediate medical attention at the first sign of heart-related problems, warning that ignoring such symptoms could be proven dangerous.

“Heart disease is the leading cause of death among people suffering from non-communicable diseases. Therefore, there is no alternative to raising public awareness to prevent and control heart disease,” he said.

The health minister made the remarks as the chief guest at a discussion organised by the Bangladesh Cardiac Society at Hotel InterContinental in Dhaka on the occasion of World Heart Day 2026. Professor Dr Mohammad Shafiuddin, convener of the Bangladesh Cardiac Society, chaired the event.

He also said people are generally aware of the importance of maintaining good health, but often fail to convert that awareness into action in their daily lives.

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“This tendency is extremely risky in the case of heart disease,” he said, urging people to seek medical advice promptly rather than ignoring any signs or warnings from the heart.

Director General of the Directorate General of Medical Education Professor Dr Md Nazmul Hasan, Assistant Personal Physician to the Prime Minister Dr ANM Manowarul Kadir and others attended the event as special guests. Dr A F Khabir Uddin Ahmed oversaw the overall arrangements.

Earlier, the minister formally inaugurated World Heart Day by releasing balloons on the premises of the Super Specialized Hospital at Bangladesh Medical University (BMU). He also joined a rally organised to mark the day.

At the inaugural event, Sakhawat Hossain said around 3 lakh people die from heart disease in the country every year. There is no alternative to raising public awareness to reduce the risk of deaths from heart disease.