Lucknow: The World Heart Foundation organises World Heart Day on September 29 every year to emphasise on the importance of being active and staying informed about cardiovascular health and diseases. The day promotes preventative measures and steps that people should inculcate in their lifestyle to keep heart attacks at bay.

On the occasion of World Heart Day, started way back in the year 1999.

What is Cardiovascular disease? 

Cardio-Vascular Diseases include heart conditions consisting of blood clots, diseased vessels and structural problems of the heart, like stroke, congenital heart disease, arrhythmia, coronary artery disease, cardiac arrest, high blood pressure, etc.

The risk factors that lead to cardio-vascular diseases include sedentary lifestyle, obesity, smoking, heightened levels of glucose, bad cholesterol and blood pressure in the body.

It  is the world’s number one killer, causing 17.5 million deaths each year, with the figure expected to rise to 23 million by 2030.

The good news is that many cases of CVD can be prevented with some lifestyle changes.

A recent study conducted by Metropolis Healthcare revealed that amarginal population of India is at high risk of developing cardio vascular disease and 3 out of 10 individual are at a risk of  heart attacks .

Why is World Heart day Observed?

According World Heart Federation (WHF), World Heart Day is the world’s biggest platform for raising awareness about cardiovascular disease (CVD) was founded to inform people around the globe that heart disease and stroke are the world’s leading causes of death, claiming 17.3 million [1.73 core] lives each year. It is celebrated on September 29 every year.

The number of deaths per year due to cardio vascular disease , according to the WHF, is more than the number of deaths due to cancer, respiratory diseases and diabetes, combined! And that number is expected to rise to around 30 million [3 crore] per year by 2030.

The website adds: “Each year’s celebrations have a different theme, reflecting key issues and topics relating to heart health. This year our theme is creating heart-healthy environments.”

It also says of the annual observation: “World Heart Day spreads the news that at least 80 percent of premature deaths from Cardiovascular disease could be avoided if four main risk factors  tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and harmful use of alcohol  are controlled.”