World Heart Day was established in 2000 by the World Heart Foundation (WHF) as a campaign to spread heart health awareness throughout the world.
It is celebrated annually on September 29 and is the world’s biggest platform for raising awareness about cardiovascular disease (CVD), including heart disease and stroke. It should go without saying that heart health is important, but you may be surprised to learn that CVD is the leading cause of death and disability in the world.
This year’s theme is about celebrating and connecting like-minded people to help raise awareness about heart health. We all have a role to play and by working together we can help people live longer, better, more heart-healthy lives. According to WHF, 80% of premature deaths from CVD could be avoided if the four main risk factors – tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and harmful use of alcohol – are controlled.
Individuals must take control of their own heart health by understanding their own and their families’ risk of CVD and acting to improve it. Small lifestyle changes can make a powerful difference to heart health: 30 minutes of activity a day, giving up smoking and eating a healthy diet can help prevent heart disease and stroke. By sharing knowledge, we can inspire each other to become more heart healthy.
How to raise awareness
World Heart Day is the perfect opportunity to get involved in raising awareness about CVD. It’s also a great time to inspire your employees to make small behavioral changes now that will set an example for heart-healthy living across your organization and community.
If you’re an HR professional seeking advice on how to raise awareness about heart health and overall corporate wellness, please contact your Bukaty benefits consultant at 913.345.0440.
