New Delhi: World Heart Day is observed annually on September 29, and is an initiative by the World Heart Federation (WHF) to spread awareness about cardiovascular disease (CVD), including heart disease and stroke.
The World Heart Federation, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), announced the establishment of World Heart Day in 1999. Antoni Bayés de Luna, president of WHF from 1997-1999, came up with the idea of this global observance event.
September 24, 2000 marked the first observance of World Heart day. Until 2011, World Heart Day was observed on the last Sunday of September.
Why is World Heart Day observed?
Cardiovascular disease, including Heart disease and Stroke is the world's leading causes of death, with 18.6 million people dying each year due to these diseases.
In May 2012, world leaders came together and made a commitment towards reducing global mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by 25 per cent by 2025. Cardiovascular disease is the world's number one killer as it accounts for nearly 50 per cent of all NCD deaths.
World Heart Day is the world's biggest awareness raising platform for CVD, and for the CVD community to come together in the fight against this disease, and reduce its global burden.
According to experts, CVD, including heart disease and stroke, accounts for most deaths in a year, but there are actions that can be taken to prevent and control CVD.
Eighty per cent of premature deaths from heart disease and stroke could be avoided by controlling risk factors such as physical inactivity, tobacco use, and unhealthy diet. World Heart Day aims to drive action to educate people about focusing on changing their day-to-day activities and adopting healthy-heart habits.
This global campaign witnesses the participation of individuals, families, communities and governments worldwide, in different activities to become more responsible towards their own heart health and that of others.
The World Health Federation believes that heart health should be a fundamental right for the entire world.
What is Cardiovascular Disease?
CVD is a class of diseases that affect the heart or blood vessels (veins and arteries). Eighty five per cent of the deaths occurring worldwide annually due to CVD are attributed to coronary heart diseases and cerebrovascular diseases. The heart's functions become compromised when one suffers from CVD.
Risk factors of CVD
Smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, poor diet, air pollution, and less common conditions such as cardiac amyloidosis and Chagas disease are some of the risk factors responsible for causing CVD.
Hypertension and high blood cholesterol can weaken the heart.
CVD Facts & Figures
More than 80 per cent of deaths from CVD occur in low- and middle-income developing countries.
Around 520 million people in the world suffer from CVD, and are at a greater risk of contracting the severe forms of the SARS-CoV-2.
People with underlying health conditions, such as heart disease, are more vulnerable to Covid-19.
World Heart Day 2021 Theme
The theme of World Heart Day 2021 is 'Use Heart To Connect'. This theme has been selected keeping in mind the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on people with CVD, who have become isolated from their kith and kin, and have not attended routine and emergency appointments out of fear of contracting Covid-19.
The theme focuses on the immediate requirement to find innovative methods of connecting people to educate them about heart health, especially in areas with insufficient resources.
The primary goal of World Heart Day 2021 is 'Improving awareness, and Prevention and Management of CVD' globally, using digital means.
The three key pillars of this year's theme are: Equity, Prevention, and Community.
The pillar of equity focuses on using technology and data to bridge the gap created due to hearts being disconnected, as this places those people at a greater risk of heart disease and stroke. Lack of access to CVD prevention, treatment and control increase the chances of having CVD. A major problem is that half of the world's population does not have access to internet connectivity.
'Equity' aims to empower everyone, everywhere, using digital tools so CVD can be prevented and diagnosed better, and people with heart-related conditions can receive the best care. Digital health aims to ensure that all hearts are equal.
The pillar of 'Prevention' is focused on encouraging people to prevent CVD by switching to a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and avoiding tobacco.
The focus is also on ensuring Covid-19 does not become a hindrance that prevents people with underlying health conditions such as heart failure, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure or obesity from attending medical check-ups.
The pillar of 'Community' takes into consideration the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic on the 520 million people living with CVD. Some of the consequences are missing medical appointments, lack of contact with family and friends, and reduced physical exercise. Patients will be connected with families, friends, other patients and doctors with digital networks in order to form a community, so no one should feel alone in the pandemic, and can overcome isolation with the help of technology.
This World Heart Day, the World Heart Federation has partnered with AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim and Lilly alliance, and Pfizer, in its efforts to help people live longer, better, more heart-healthy lives.