Our heart is the most important organ of our body but the sad part is that not many of us take proper care of it.
Due to a lack of knowledge about cardiovascular health & certain lifestyle habits, many people suffer from heart problems. In order to spread awareness about heart disease, its prevention, and its impact on people around the world, World Heart Day is celebrated every year on 29 September..
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), cardiovascular diseases (CVD) take the lives of 17.9 million people every year, which is 31% of all global deaths. Considering this fact, the day highlights the actions that individuals can take to prevent and control CVD. This day is celebrated every year with a theme and this year's (2022) theme is “Use Heart for Every Heart”.
The importance of this disease increased during Corona when heart-related problems were at its peak. People at this time were not involved in physical activities which was the main cause of many heart-related diseases. In such a situation, it is important that they keep getting regular check-ups and follow a better lifestyle.
History of World Heart Day
World Health Day was first established in 1999 by the World Heart Federation (WHF) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO). The idea of an annual event was conceived by Antoine Bayes de Luna, president of the World Heart Federation from 1997–2011.
The first World Heart Day was celebrated on 24 September 2000 but in 2012 global leaders decided to celebrate World Heart Day on 29 September every year to reduce the global mortality rate by 25 percent. On this day, more than 90 countries participate to organize awareness campaigns to raise awareness and educate people about cardiovascular health.
Five Simple and Smart Ways to Prevent Heart-Related Diseases
Exercise regularly
To keep your heart healthy, it's important to exercise each day and to ensure that the arteries remain flexible, daily exercise is as important as any physical activity for 30-45 minutes. Some lifestyle changes such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator, and taking a break from the office for a short while during your lunch hour not only help in keeping the body fit but also becomes a habit of healthy living.
Eating a healthy diet
It is a fact that the right and healthy diet is the key to a healthy heart and a healthy life, but most of us ignore it. What a person eats directly affects his heart, so eat green and leafy vegetables.
Avoid sugary and gassy drinks, replace sugary beverages with water as much as possible, and reduce your intake of processed foods and refined flours for a healthier life and a healthy heart.
Control your weight
Excessive body weight is dangerous for the heart. Keep an eye on weight as it increases the chances of high cholesterol, which can lead to diabetes, risk of arterial disease and blood pressure. Also, keep an eye on the BMI (Body Mass Index) and maintain it at an appropriate level.
Control smoking and alcohol
Smoking and alcohol consumption will increase the risk of heart disease. These habits are known to raise blood pressure, leading to irregular heartbeats and strokes.
Not only this, they cause disturbances in the normal functioning of the heart, so it is advisable not to consume both or eliminate them by reducing them.
Check stress level
Many studies that have shown that stress is the biggest cause of heart problems. This can cause pain and discomfort, create feelings of anxiety and depression, and deplete your energy. Try to keep stress away and look for activities other than work that help keep stress levels down. Take up a hobby or positive self-talk, listen to music or read a good book or meditate. These techniques have helped to reduce stress and develop a positive attitude towards work and life.
