Diabetes and Cardio Vascular Diseases were the major causes of premature death in Tonga.
It has also been revealed that “Rheumatic Heart Disease” has significantly affected children in the kingdom.
Dr Sione. T. Latu has revealed this during the marking of the World Heart Week this week in Nukuʻalofa.
The World Heart Federation will officially mark the World Heart Day on 29 September raising awareness about cardiovascular disease (CVD).
CVD is described by the Mayo Clinic as it refers to the conditions that involve narrowed or blocked blood vessels that can lead to a heart attack, chest pain (angina) or stroke.
“This World Heart Day, we want everyone to understand what they can do to fuel their hearts and power their lives. Your heart is at the heart of your health. And it’s easy to give it the care it deserves”, the international body says.
“Just a few simple steps such as eating more healthily, cutting down on alcohol and stopping smoking can improve your heart health and your overall well-being,” it says.
Dr Latu, a Heart Specialist at Vaiola Hospital warned that: “Once you develop a heart condition, it will never be normal again”.
A Tongan team at Vaiola which promote Heart Week said they were in part 3 of the special series leading up to World Heart Day.
Known as the Hala Fononga, the special series were supported and funded by the Government of Tonga and the Government of Australia, with Tonga Health as the appointed secretariat and coordinating body.
