Experts Stress Early Detection, Healthy Lifestyles

New Delhi: Ahead of World Heart Day 2026, the Illness to Wellness Foundation organised a conference in New Delhi under the theme “Healthy Heart for a Healthy Life”, bringing together leading cardiologists, healthcare experts and public health voices to highlight the growing importance of prevention, early detection and healthier everyday choices amid concerns around stress, pollution and changing lifestyles. The conference focused on building a stronger culture of prevention through awareness, healthy living, regular health checks, emergency preparedness and greater community participation.

(Padma Bhushan) Dr T.S. Kler, Chairman & HOD, BLK-Max Heart & Vascular Institute & Chairman, Pan Max - Electrophysiology, said, “It is important to support the call for the Government of India to establish structured preventive cardiovascular programmes and strengthen health education and prevention so that awareness translates into sustained action and reaches people at the community level. This preventive approach must also take into account the broader environmental and lifestyle factors influencing heart health, from air pollution, noise pollution and stubble burning to rising stress, changing work patterns and evolving lifestyle habits.”

(Padma Bhushan) Dr. (Prof.) K. K. Talwar, Chairman, PSRI Heart Institute, New Delhi, stressed the importance of community preparedness during cardiac emergencies, saying, “Every minute is important. It is only the person who is by the side that matters.” He called for wider community CPR training to enable people to provide immediate assistance while medical help is arriving.

(Padma Shri) Dr. Ganesh Kumar Mani, Chairman, Cardiac Sciences, Cardiac Surgery (CTVS), Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, Delhi, highlighted the importance of preventive cardiology and healthier everyday habits, particularly the role of stress and sedentary lifestyles. “Preventive cardiology has taken a big centre stage, and we need to move beyond looking at heart disease only when a problem arises. The emphasis should be on prevention, early action and making healthier choices part of everyday life. Small, consistent changes can play an important role in protecting heart health over the long term,” he said.