A simple promise -for MY HEART, for YOUR HEART, for ALL OUR HEARTS!
Our Heart is the most important muscular organ in the body. While it provides oxygen and necessary nutrients, it also removes metabolic wastes. A healthy heart makes sure the body functions well. However, unhealthy diet, smoking, use of alcohol, tobacco consumption and physical inactivity may negatively affect the working of the heart. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) report, 31% of deaths in the world (17.9 million) occur due to cardiovascular diseases per year! It is estimated that this number will rise to 23 million by the year 2030.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a group of disorders affecting the heart and blood vessels which supply blood to the lungs, kidneys and other parts of the body. It is difficult to recognise minor damages to the heart, until they become very severe. Some early symptoms such as mild pain in areas such as the centre of the chest, in one or both arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach, might indicate a problem with the heart. Shortness of breath, cold sweat, nausea, light-headedness can also be some of the symptoms of a heart problem.
How to be a Hero of the Heart?
We can reduce the chances of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack, stroke by keeping our heart, fit. A healthy diet enriched with fruits, vegetables, grain products and high protein food products, are advisable to include in your daily meal. Regular exercise and 30 minutes of daily walking can regulate the heart’s function. Avoiding smoking and consuming tobacco are one of the ways to protect your heart.
The World Heart Federation is an international Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO). It works to connect and co-ordinate the functions of various cardiovascular communities, in the world. It is dedicated to translate science into policies beyond borders in different countries. September the 29th was declared as ‘World Heart Day’ to promote awareness about CVD and motivate people to practice healthy habits for a healthy heart. The World Health Organisation (WHO) is also supporting governments around the globe, to enhance efforts taken for prevention of CVDs. At the same time it has launched three technical packages to control CVDs -MPOWER for tobacco control, SHAKE for salt reduction and HEARTS for the strengthening of CVD management in primary health care.
The 2019 theme for the World heart day is ‘Be a Heart Hero: Make a Promise!’. It encourages people to promise your family members, friends for opting a healthy diet with regular exercise. A simple promise - for MY HEART, for YOUR HEART, for ALL OUR HEARTS!
Editor: Dr. Ratnesh Jain
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