World Heart Day: A Call to Take Charge of Your Heart Health

It is very important to take care of yourself so that your life goes smoothly but to save your life you have to take care of your heart. Every year on the 29th of September World Heart Day is observed to spread awareness about heart health and cardiovascular diseases, including their prevention and their global impact. The World Heart Federation created this global campaign, which is more than just a date on the calendar. It acts as a wake-up call for all of us to think about how we live, eat, move, and care for our own and others' hearts.

History of World Heart Day

In 1999 the World Heart Federation (WHF), came together with the World Health Organization (WHO) and established World Heart Day. Antoni Bayés de Luna, the president of the World Heart Federation (WHF) from 1997 to 1999, came up with the concept of World Heart Day. The first celebration took place on September 24, 2000.

At first, it was decided to celebrate on the last Sunday of September but in 2011 it was decided to observe on the 29th of September every year.

Types of Heart Diseases

There are different kinds of heart diseases are there and all have different effects and symptoms. Go through the below-given diseases to learn about the types of heart diseases:

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

This is the most popular type of heart disease, caused by the buildup of plaque (fatty deposits) in the coronary arteries, which provide blood to the heart.

Symptoms: Chest pain (angina), shortness of breath, heart attack.

Heart Attack

A heart attack happens when blood flow to the heart muscle is interrupted, which is frequently caused by a blood clot in a coronary artery.

Symptoms: Chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, nausea, cold sweat, dizziness.

Stroke

A stroke happens when there is a reduction or interruption in the blood supply to the brain.

Symptoms: Ischemic stroke (caused by a blood clot) and hemorrhagic stroke (caused by bleeding in the brain).

Heart Failure

This illness, which is also referred to as congestive heart failure, is brought on by a weakening of the heart muscle that affects its ability to pump blood effectively. It may be brought on by diseases like CAD, excessive blood pressure, or prior heart attacks.

Symptoms: Fatigue, shortness of breath, swelling in the legs, ankles, and feet.

Importance of World Heart Day

On September 29, we observe World Heart Day, a day that is extremely important for spreading awareness about heart health and cardiovascular diseases, which continue to be the world's leading cause of death.

Read the why World Heart Day is important:

Raising Awareness About Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs)

World Heart Day is used as a reminder to raise awareness of the symptoms and risk factors for heart issues, which many people are unaware of. it raises awareness and educates people on the value of keeping an eye on their heart health.

Encouraging Healthy Lifestyle Changes

It encourages easy changes in lifestyle that may significantly decrease the risk of heart disease. These include maintaining a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, giving up smoking, and consuming less alcohol.

Promoting Heart Health in the Post-Pandemic World

Heart health has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, as the virus directly affects some patients' cardiovascular systems and the stress of the pandemic causes bad habits including poor diets and inactivity. World Heart Day serves as a reminder of the importance of heart health, particularly in light of the recent pandemic.

Empowering People to Take Charge of Their Heart Health

The main takeaway from World Heart Day is that you are responsible for your own heart health. People are given the power to choose better options, take preventative actions, and schedule regular visits with doctors.

How to Prevent Heart Diseases?

“Prevention is better than cure”, it is very important to prevent yourself from heart disease so that you can live a healthy life. Here are some prevention that should be taken to keep your heart healthy:

Controlling your blood pressure

One of the main causes of heart disease is high blood pressure. It is essential to have your blood pressure measured on a regular basis for most individuals, this should be done at least once a year, and regularly if you have high blood pressure.

Keeping your cholesterol level under control

High cholesterol can block your arteries, increasing the chance of heart attacks and coronary artery disease. Modifications in lifestyle and medication can help reduce cholesterol.

Weight Management

Being overweight can raise your risk of heart disease. This is primarily due to their connections with other risk factors for heart disease, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high levels of cholesterol. Reducing your weight can help to reduce these risks.

Eat Healthy

Limit your intake of added sugars, foods heavy in sodium (salt), and saturated fats. Eat lots of fresh fruit, vegetables, and nutritious grains as an alternative.

Limit Alcohol Consumption and Quit smoking

One of the main risk factors for CVD is smoking and your health can be greatly improved by quitting it. Blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease symptoms can rise with excessive alcohol use.

Health Insurance for Heart Diseases

One should have health insurance for heart disease so that you do not have to worry about treatment expenses during a medical emergency. Here are some health insurance plans that give coverage for heart diseases.

FAQs

Q. What is the motto of Heart Day?

A. The motto of World Heart Day is to spread awareness for heart diseases and how to keep your heart healthy.

Q. Who has started World Heart Day?

A. World Heart Federation has started World Heart Day and Antoni Bayés de Luna, the president of the World Heart Federation (WHF) from 1997 to 1999, came up with the concept of World Heart Day.

Q. What are the most common risk factors for heart disease?

A. The major risk factors include High blood pressure (hypertension), High cholesterol levels, Smoking, Obesity, Physical inactivity, Poor diet (high in processed and fatty foods)Excessive alcohol consumption, family history of heart disease