Significance of World Heart Day 2022

Dr Sumidra Laishram *

World Heart day is an important annual event, witnessed every year on 29th September. The day is celebrated by organizing various activities and awareness events globally to raise awareness about the heart disease and its preventive measures to manage the cardiovascular diseases.

The events mainly focuses on educating people about the sign and symptoms of cardiovascular disease to avoid any further complications and encouraging peoples to inculcate healthy lifestyle to prevent and control any heart related ailments.

Significance of World Heart Day

Founded by the World Heart Federation, World Heart Day aims to raise awareness of the many cardiovascular illnesses that may be significant to someone’s well being. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) which include strokes and heart attacks are the major cause of mortality worldwide, claiming the lives of 18.6 million citizens every year.

The goal of World Heart Day is to draw attention to the behaviour that really can deter individuals from becoming predisposed to cardiovascular diseases, as well as to educate the masses on how to handle the potential risks associated with these diseases, including an unbalanced diet, passive smoking, and lack of physical activity, which seem to be sufficient to stop 80% of untimely deaths occurring from strokes and heart attacks.

Three Pillars – Three Key Beneficiaries
Use Heart for Humanity

Access to treatment and support for CVD varies widely across the world. Over 75% of CVD deaths occur in low-to middle-income countries, but access can be an issue anywhere. By getting involved with global events such as World Heart Day as well as local activities, we are empowered to spread awareness and help make a difference in the lives of all humankind.

Use Heart for Nature

Air pollution is responsible for 25% of all CVD deaths, taking the lives of 7 million people every year. Whether they are more immediate actions like walking or cycling instead of travelling by car, or longer-term efforts such as supporting clean air legislation, each of us can contribute to a healthier planet in our own way.

Use Heart for You

Psychological stresses can double the risk of having a heart attack. Exercise, meditation, and getting enough quality sleep help to lower stress levels. By resisting the harmful coping mechanisms and bad habits induced by stress, we can maximize our individual heart health.

World Heart Day Theme 2022

This year 2022, World Heart Day Theme is "Use Heart for Every Heart". Since the inception of World Heart Day, every year, the day is observed with a specific theme to promote the heart health awareness campaign globally. This year 2022 World Heart Day Theme focuses on uniting people across to world to fight against cardiovascular disease by supporting each other.

The theme "Use Heart for Every Heart" intends to address the people to have opportunity to use their thinking and action towards the betterment of humanity, nature and itself, through which huge mortality due to cardiovascular diseases can be curtailed.

Awareness and support for cardiovascular disease management in different countries varies. Poor and developing countries do not have adequate access to heart care awareness and facilities, causing 75% of all cardiovascular death in these countries. This rate can be decreased by organizing and participating awareness program globally to help the humankind.

Everyone can contribute for the healthy nature in their own way such as fighting air pollution, which accounts for 25% of all cardiovascular death and around 70 lakhs death every year globally.

Stress and poor lifestyle have been the prominent risk factors of heart attack, which can be dealt with improving our lifestyle by inculcating good habits like Exercise, meditation, and getting quality sleep.

History of World Heart Day

The idea of having heart day globally was introduced by the Antoni Baie de Luna, former president of the World Health Federation, based on his ideas along with the collaboration of World Health Organization; World Heart Day was established in 1999.

The world witnessed the first official World Heart Day celebration on September 24, 2000. Till 2011, the day continued its mission of creating awareness about the management of cardiovascular disease on the very last Sunday of September.

In 2012, with the idea to curb the global mortality due to non-communicable diseases by 25 percent by 2025, global leaders came together and urges the world to actively participate for this cause and 29 September, was marked as global World Heart Day. More than 90 countries participate on this day to organize awareness campaigns to raise awareness and educate people about the cardiovascular health.

Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors

There are many risk factors for CAD and some can be controlled. The risk factors that can be controlled (modifiable) are:
High BP;
high blood cholesterol levels;
smoking;
diabetes;
overweight or obesity;
lack of physical activity;
unhealthy diet and stress.

Those that cannot be controlled (non-modifiable) are:
Age (simply getting older increases risk);
sex (men are generally at greater risk of coronary artery disease);
family history; and
race.

Preventive Measures to Keep Heart Healthy

o Keeping body mass index (BMI) under control. BMI Ranges – Underweight = < 18.5, Normal weight + 18.5 – 24.9, Overweight = 25 – 29.9, Obese = 30 or greater
o Keeping an eye on High blood pressure (hypertension), high level of cholesterol (Hyperlipidemia)
o Limiting the consumption of excess sodium – risk of high blood pressure (hypertension)
o Understanding the early sign and symptoms and taking appropriate action to avoid any complication
o Avoiding sedentary lifestyle, opting for active lifestyle by indulging in physical activities
o Monitoring heart health through consultation and awareness programs
o Eating healthy and balanced diets, avoiding trans fat and junk foods
o Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption
o Learn to manage the stress and get quality sleep