World Heart Day was around the globe in a bid to raise public awareness about cardiovascular diseases, their prevention and global impact.
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels that include coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, rheumatic heart disease and other conditions, claim the lives of millions of people each year.
As per WHO, more than four out of five CVD deaths are due to heart attacks and strokes, and one third of these deaths occur prematurely in people under 70 years of age.
World Health Day was first founded in 1999 with the World Heart Federation (WHF) collaborating with WHO. The idea of an annual event was conceived by Antoni Bayés de Luna, the president of WHF from 1997-2011. Originally, World Heart Day was observed on the last Sunday of September, with the first celebration taking place on September 24, 2000.
In Covid era, heart health has assumed more significance as there is a rising trend of sudden cardiac attacks. Even people aged between 40-50 years are affected by it.
At the time of pandemic, more and more stress was laid on vulnerability of pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or hypertension. In fact, Covid-19 was also seen to induce certain cardiovascular ailments as well as high blood glucose levels. The prevalence of such diseases is already staggeringly high given poor dietary habits and lifestyles.
Also, people indulge in high sugar, trans-fat, and sodium comfort food, which can be extremely dangerous for the diabetic and hypertensive population including the heart.
The doctors advocate habitual changes to reduce the risks of developing serious cardiovascular concerns. There is a need for taking a heart-healthy diet. Eating small and frequent meals is recommended as it helps prevent excess pressure on the heart.
Also winters are approaching and it is high time for heart attacks. The risk is not confined to the elderly alone. The young and healthy individuals also suffer heart attacks and strokes.
According to a survey published in the European Journal of Epidemiology, the number of strokes in the general population goes up by 11 percent for every 2.9 degree centigrade decline in temperature.
Freezing temperatures cause the heart arteries to condense thereby restricting the blood and oxygen flow to the heart. This often causes a rise in blood pressure, making a heart attack or stroke more likely.
It is high time to adopt a healthy lifestyle to make sure our heart does not suffer in any way.
