BY OLIVIA SPIRITO; EDITED BY BERNICE BORN
On September 29 the World Heart Federation is sponsoring World Heart Day, created to call attention to cardiovascular health and to inspire people to adopt heart-healthy behaviors. The recommendations spotlighted are designed to reduce the threats of cardiovascular disease, one of the leading causes of death worldwide.
This year’s theme is “My Heart, Your Heart,” which conveys the message not only to look after your own heart health but also to look after the heart health of your loved ones and friends. The theme encourages everyone to make a promise to live a healthier and happier life.
What does it mean to live a more well-rounded, healthier life? It means staying active, eating a healthy diet and saying no to any form of smoking. Being active may include running, biking, walking, hiking or dancing; almost any activity that gets people moving and out of a chair. Diet and exercise are significant factors related to someone’s risk for heart problems.
World Heart Day brings together populations around the globe to fight against the same common concern: cardiovascular diseases. These include primarily heart attacks and strokes. Nearly 50 percent of deaths from non-communicable diseases are caused by cardiovascular diseases, which doctors confirm can often be prevented.
For more information on heart health topics, WiRED International offers a Heart Diseases Module, a Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) Training Series and a RHD Animation Video. On this World Heart Day, WiRED encourages people to find out how they can make changes in their daily lifestyle which will impact their health for a lifetime.
Maintaining a Heart Healthy Lifestyle