© World Heart
World Heart Day is celebrated every year on September 29th, with the goal of informing people around the globe that cardiovascular disease (CVD), including heart disease and stroke, is the world’s leading cause of death claiming 17.5 million lives each year.1 World Heart Day also helps highlights the actions individuals can take to prevent and control CVD.
What is Cardiovascular Disease?
Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) can refer to a number of conditions including heart disease, heart attack, stroke, heart failure, arrhythmia or heart valve problems.2 According to the Global Atlas on cardiovascular disease prevention and stroke, over 17.5 million deaths each year are caused by CVD. Ischemic heart disease (eg heart attacks) is responsible for 7.3 million of the total CVD deaths and cerebrovascular disease (eg stroke) is responsible for 6.2 million of the total CVD deaths. This makes it the number one cause of death in the world today.1
Are you at Risk?
It’s important to visit your physician and receive regular checkups. At your next appointment, ask for a few simple checks:
Blood Glucose Levels
Blood Pressure Levels
Check your Numbers (Cholesterol, weight and body mass index (BMI)
Understand the Signs and Symptoms of a Heart Attack
How Can You Participate in World Heart Day?
Make a promise! “You could promise to cook and eat more healthily, to do more exercise and encourage your children to be more active, to say no to smoking and help your loved ones to stop.
A simple promise… for MY HEART, for YOUR HEART, for ALL OUR HEARTS.”3
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