World Heart Day

World Heart Day is celebrated on the 29th September each year. The sole purpose of the global campaign is to raise awareness by informing people around the world about cardiovascular disease (CVD).

The World Heart Federation started the annual campaign in 2000 and by 2025 they aim to have reduced global premature deaths from cardiovascular diseases significantly by 25%.

As it currently stands, heart disease and stroke is the world’s leading cause of death, claiming 17.5 million lives each year. At least 80% of these deaths could be prevented if certain risk factors such as tobacco use, alcohol and diet were controlled. World Heart Day highlights the actions and lifestyle changes that can be implemented to prevent people from being affected by CVD, encouraging people and organisations around the world to participate in activities that will encourage and inspire heart-healthy living.

About Cardiovascular Disease

Any disease of the heart, vascular disease of the brain, or disease of the blood vessel is classed as cardiovascular disease with heart attacks and strokes being the most prevalent.

Unfortunately, no one is immune to CVD. Even children are at risk, women are as equally affected as men are, with heart disease and stroke causing a third of all deaths in women around the globe, however, certain non-modifiable risk factors can put some individuals at an increased risk for CVD:

Family history Diabetes Age Gender Ethnicity Socioeconomic status

The following modifiable risk factors allow for changes to your lifestyle to be made accordingly to protect your heart from CVD and change the effect of the risk factor:

Physical inactivity Unhealthy diet Raised blood pressure & hypertension Tobacco use Cholesterol Obesity

Britain has some of the highest death rates from cardiovascular disease, a European study also found that Iceland has the lowest rate. This is down to a difference in levels of obesity, smoking, exercise and diet between these countries. Most heart disease and strokes can be prevented by making healthy lifestyle changes to your everyday life such as eating healthily, drinking plenty of water, exercising and quitting smoking as this will ensure you control the risk factors and protect your heart.

Raising Awareness

Ways the World Heart Federation are raising awareness for the 2017 campaign include:

World Heart Day activities- Using the World Heart Day interactive map, you can get involved with activities that are already happening close by. Share your Healthy Heart Tip- You can share your healthy heart tip to be featured on the campaign’s Heart Health Wall. Why not share it on social too, don’t forget to use the hashtag #WorldHeartDay. Healthy Heart Selfie- Upload your healthy heart selfie to the campaign’s Selfie Wall to also be featured on the website and on social media. Light the world up red- Every year iconic monuments and landmarks illuminate in support of World Heart Day. Spotted one? Take a picture to further spread awareness! Heart IQ test- A heart IQ test is also part of the campaign for you to find out how heart smart you are.

Remember, you can keep it simple if you don’t have time to organise or attend an event or challenge. Small changes can still make a big difference on World Heart Day!

Get Involved

Remember your heart is your most important organ, it powers your entire body so it is important to look after it, so it can look after you! If you don’t, you will be putting yourself at risk of cardiovascular disease, the world’s number one killer. Although you can reduce the risk of CVD, and preventative measures that have been discussed can be taken in order to do ensure your heart stays healthy.

How do you power your heart to ensure it stays healthy? Let us know what you plan on doing to get involved with World Heart Day for a longer, better, heart-healthy life by leaving a comment below or tweeting @defibshop and joining the conversation.