Sequel of medical drama spotlights heart health awareness

After a three-year hiatus, The Heart 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the acclaimed medical drama The Heart, is set to return to screens on Thursday, with its creators hoping the series will not only entertain audiences but also raise public awareness about cardiovascular health.

The upcoming drama was unveiled at a recent promotional event held at Tsinghua University in Beijing, which combined a public science lecture on heart health with a behind-the-scenes discussion featuring cardiologists and the drama's creative team.

The event comes at a time when cardiovascular diseases are increasingly affecting younger people in China.

She Fei, director of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, warned that unhealthy lifestyles have become major contributors to the trend. He cited high-fat and high-sugar diets, lack of sleep, sedentary habits and excessive stress as key risk factors behind the early onset of heart disease.

Xiao Zhenghua, deputy chief physician of the Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at West China Hospital of Sichuan University, noted that younger patients generally fall into two categories: those with poor lifestyle habits and those who participate in intense sports without being aware of underlying cardiovascular conditions.

"If you regularly engage in strenuous exercise, I recommend undergoing a basic cardiovascular screening first, which can effectively reduce the risk of sudden cardiac events," Xiao said.

The new series builds on the success of The Heart, which became one of recent years' most talked-about medical dramas after its release in 2023. The first season attracted more than 1 billion online views and earned a rating of 8.5 out of 10 on the popular review platform Douban.

To ensure authenticity, screenwriter Zhou Yifei spent three years preparing the sequel, conducting extensive research at both major tertiary hospitals and county-level medical institutions. She also consulted more than 200 healthcare professionals to guarantee medical accuracy.

The sequel reunites leading stars Mark Chao, Mao Xiaotong and Jin Shijia in their roles as cardiologists. A new cast member to join them is Huang Jue, who portrays a highly respected yet enigmatic cardiac specialist.

As the doctors confront complex medical cases and personal challenges, the series explores both the technical demands of modern medicine and the emotional growth of those dedicated to saving lives.

The Heart 2 will premiere on China Central Television's CCTV-8 and the streaming platforms iQIYI and Tencent Video on June 18.