“Because we believe every heartbeat matters.”

– World Heart Federation

World Heart Day, an annual celebration that is held with the intention of increasing public awareness of cardiovascular diseases. Taking place on every September 29^th World Health Day was established by World Heart Federation (WHF) in order to make a global impact on cardiovascular diseases and its preventions.

Globally, the highest rate of death and disability is due to cardiovascular diseases. 17 million people die each year succumbing to cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease and strokes. The most prominent factors leading to cardiovascular diseases are physical inactivity, obesity, smoking and hypertension. These factors can be controlled and the risk of cardiovascular diseases can be reduced.

Even though there are risk factors that cannot be controlled such as, age, gender, race or ethnicity, the factors that can be controlled can reduce the number of deaths remarkably. One can take better care of their heart by, eating a healthy diet and staying at a healthy weight. Getting regular exercise and keeping your blood pressure and cholesterol under control. Stop the usage of tobacco and alcohol. These are some of the actions one should take to reduce the chance of cardiovascular diseases and to improve the quality of life.

In 2019, World Heart Federation asks people all around the world, us, to be Heart Heroes, a global community aiming to live a heart healthy life by making a heart promise to someone dear to them:

• A promise to our families, to cook and eat more healthily,
• A promise to our children to exercise more and help them to be more active, to say no to smoking and help our loved ones to stop.
• A promise as a policymaker to support policies that promote healthy hearts.
• A promise as a healthcare professional to help patients give up smoking and lower their cholesterol.
• A promise as an employee to invest in heart-healthy workplaces.

It is estimated that cardiovascular diseases will be responsible for around 23 million deaths per year by 2030. World Heart Day aims to change that and reduce the numbers. Being the world’s largest platform of raising awareness about cardiovascular diseases, we can use the day to spread crucial awareness encourage everyone to take action and try to make a difference.

On World Heart Day, lets join together and work to reduce the number of deaths from cardiovascular diseases. Helping everyone to live a long, healthy life. For my heart, for your heart. For all of our hearts.

Written by: Usmaan Shaam,
Student, Faculty of Education, MNU