The World Heart Day is an opportunity for everyone to stop and consider how best to use heart for humanity, for nature, and for you. Beating cardiovascular disease (CVD) is something that matters to every beating heart. Use Heart means to think differently, to make the right decisions, to act with courage, to help others and to engage with this important cause. The heart is the only organ you can hear and feel. It is the first and last sign of life. It is one of the few things with the potential to unite all of us as people. Every heart involves the use of ‘For’ and swings the focus from the actions themselves to the beneficiaries of the actions, allowing for wider application of the campaign while also making it more personal. We want World Heart Day messages to reach as many individuals as possible to help achieve cardiovascular health for every heart.
Access to treatment and support for CVD varies widely across the world. Over 75 per cent of CVD deaths occur in low-to middle-income countries, but access can be an issue anywhere. By getting involved with global events such as World Heart Day as well as local activities, we are empowered to spread awareness and help make a difference in the lives of all humankind. Air pollution is responsible for 25 per cent of all CVD deaths, taking the lives of 7 million people every year. Whether they are more immediate actions like walking or cycling instead of travelling by car, or longer-term efforts such as supporting clean air legislation, each of us can contribute to a healthier planet in our own way.
Psychological stress can double the risk of having a heart attack. Exercise, mediation, and getting enough quality sleep help to lower stress levels. By resisting the harmful coping mechanisms and bad habits induced by stress, we can maximise our individual heart health World Heart Day is celebrated every year on 29 September. In May 2012, world leaders committed to reducing global mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by 25 per cent by 2025. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is accountable for nearly half of all NCD deaths making it the world’s number one killer. World Heart Day is, therefore, the perfect platform for the CVD community to unite in the fight against CVD and reduce the global disease burden. Created by the World Heart Federation, World Heart Day informs people around the globe that CVD, including heart disease and stroke, is the world’s leading cause of death claiming 18.6 million lives each year, and highlights the actions that individuals can take to prevent and control CVD. It aims to drive action to educate people that by controlling risk factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, at least 80 per cent of premature deaths from heart disease and stroke could be avoided.