What’s the future of heart health? Cardiologists on advances, life-saving habits

Anthea RowanPublished: 7:15am, 29 Sep 2026Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally, accounting for a third of all deaths. The tragedy? It is largely preventable.

On World Heart Day on September 29, which continues its “Don’t Miss a Beat” theme, three prominent cardiologists share their hopes and fears for the future of heart health, the technologies that excite them, the simple daily choices that could save your life, and essential habits they practise to safeguard their own.

Among the most exciting trends in cardiology is that “we are moving from treating heart disease to finding it before it finds you”, says Dr Pinakin Parekh, a preventive, general and interventional cardiologist in Singapore.

For some time, cardiology has been excellent at treating the consequences of heart disease – heart attacks, blocked arteries and heart failure. What excites Parekh now is the shift “upstream” – that is, picking up health hints in vulnerability early to protect the heart later.