World Heart Day on September 29th focuses on using and knowing your heart. The theme emphasizes learning about heart health to better care for your heart. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, with over 18.6 million deaths per year from conditions like heart attack and stroke. Risk factors include high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and smoking. While some risks like family history cannot be changed, lifestyle changes can lower risks like maintaining a healthy diet, exercise, weight, and stress levels.

1. World Heart Day – September 29, 2023
This year’s theme for World Heart Day is
Use Heart, Know Heart.

2. According to the World Heart Federation:
 1 in 3 CVD deaths occur prematurely in people under 70 years of age.
 More people die from CVD worldwide than from any other cause: over
18.6 million every year.
 85% of CVD deaths are due to heart attack and stroke.

3. This day is a reminder to everyone around the world to take care of
their hearts.
The campaign focuses on the essential step of knowing our hearts
first. “Because we love and protect only what we know”.
In a world where knowledge about heart health is limited and
policies are insufficient or lacking, we aim to shatter barriers and
empower individuals to take control of their well-being.
“Because when we know more, we can take better care”.

4. What is Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)?
CVD is a class of diseases that affect the heart or blood vessels (veins
and arteries).
It can be caused by a combination of socio-economic, behavioral, and
environmental risk factors, including high blood pressure, unhealthy
diet, high cholesterol, diabetes, air pollution, obesity, tobacco use, kidney
disease, physical inactivity, harmful use of alcohol and stress.
Family history, ethnic background, sex, and age can also affect a
person’s risk of cardiovascular disease.

5. There are many risk factors associated with heart disease and stroke.
Some risk factors, like family history, cannot be modified, while
other risk factors, like high blood pressure, can be modified through
lifestyle interventions and treatment.
Millions of people worldwide struggle to control the risk factors
that lead to cardiovascular disease, and many others remain unaware that
they are at high risk.

6. You will not necessarily develop cardiovascular disease if you
have a risk factor.
However, the more risk factors you have, the greater the
likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease, unless you take action
and work to prevent your risk factors compromising your heart health.

7. What can you do to lower your risk of Cardiovascular Disease?
• Eat a healthy and balanced diet
• Exercise regularly
• Maintain a healthy body weight
• Avoid tobacco use
• Avoid alcohol
• Manage stress
• Know your numbers
• Take your medication as prescribed
• Know the warning signs

8. Reference:
https://www.dhd10.org/world-heart-day-september-29-
2023/#:~:text=This%20year%27s%20theme%20for%20World,of%20know
ing%20our%20hearts%20first.