On this #WorldHeartDay, read the significance behind this major cause that’s taking away 17.3 million lives each year

New Delhi, September 29: In today’s hustle and bustle life, we often stop caring about our health, especially heart. Without the proper functioning of blood through our heart, it’s quite possible for us to suffer from a chronic heart disease. So, before that happens, let's start taking good care of our heart and spread awareness about cardiovascular disease (CVD). Moreover, World Heart Foundation organizes World Heart Day on September 29 every year to emphasize 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.

 

The theme for this year’s World Heart Day on September 29th is ‘Share the power’. By empowering and inspiring millions of people across the globe, World Heart Day 2017 will promote making “small changes”, such as eating a healthy diet, getting more exercise, and giving up smoking, in order to make a powerful difference to heart health.

 

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is categorized as any disease of the heart, vascular disease of the brain, or disease of the blood vessel. The most prevalent cardiovascular diseases include coronary heart disease (e.g. heart attack) and cerebrovascular disease (e.g. stroke).

 

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. Eating healthy is one of the most important steps towards ensuring that the heart is fuelled with clean energy. Omega-3 rich fish, nuts, berries, oats and legumes are some of the easily available foods that one can consume to ensure the heart’s good health.

 

Heart disease is very susceptible to lifestyle modifications, and simple interventions like monitoring and controlling high blood pressure, and high cholesterol levels; managing diabetes appropriately; encouraging good nutrition, and modest exercise; and stopping smoking have been shown to reduce heart disease significantly. Remaining active, breaking a sweat and staying fit through exercises and yoga is another way one can ensure good health.

World Heart Day is a fantastic opportunity to get involved in raising awareness about CVD and inspire individuals to make “small changes” now to encourage heart-healthy living across the world.