All About the Heart for World Heart Day

On September 29th, the world is coming together to bring awareness to the leading cause of death, cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Over 600,000 Canadians are currently living with cardiovascular problems, yet not everyone understands how it impacts their lives, how to live with it, and how it can be prevented. But that is what World Heart Day is all about! The World Heart Federation has declared the 29th as a day of creating awareness, educating the world, and committing to “reducing global mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by 25% by 2025.” Want to know more about how you can get involved and make a difference? Here’s what you need to know!

Why World Heart Day?

“Heart disease and stroke, is the world’s leading cause of death claiming 18.6 million lives each year.” – World Heart Federation

With so many people affected by heart disease, it is no secret that our world needs to take a moment to address this health issue and act towards improved health! World Heart Day was created to bring together people from all over the world to raise awareness and participate in activities that will encourage a healthier heart for each individual. The goal of the day and the campaign is to “[unite] people from all countries and backgrounds in the fight against the CVD burden.”

How to Get Involved!

Want to raise awareness about heart health, cardiovascular disease, and World Heart Day? There is plenty you can do that can make a drastic difference in the lives of those around you. Take a look at the various ways you can be involved:

• Engage on social media and use the hashtag #UseHeart to connect
• Create promotional images to share on your social media pages, in your workplace, and in the community (use the World Heart Federation Poster Builder!)
• Donate and take a “stand against heart disease”
• ‘Use Heart to Connect’ and to spread awareness
• Reach out to your local landmark and ask them to light it up and ‘Shine for WHD’
• Increase AED location awareness – If you see an AED in public, snap a photo, share your location, use the hashtag #AEDFound, and tag @firsteditionaed and we will share it to our platforms as well!

How to Help Your Own Heart

Sharing inspiration, education, and love with others is just one way you can make a difference, but you can also make a big difference in your own life by focusing on the organ in your chest! Heart disease can happen to anyone, healthy or sick, young or old, so it is critical that we focus on our heart’s health for prevention! Check out the various things you can do to help your heart and ensure you live a long and healthy life!

• Stop smoking
• Add heart healthy foods into your diet (find out what heart-healthy foods to add, here!)
• Add exercise into your weekly routine
• Drink more water
• Take moments for self-care 
• Reduce major stressors in your life
• Learn how to breathe better
• Eat superfoods to boost heart health
• Get enough sleep each night – if not take a short nap!
• Reduce alcohol intake
• See your doctor for yearly checkups
• Know your blood pressure levels
• Go for a walk outside and get some fresh air
• Purchase an AED in cases of emergency

Implement these things into your day, weeks, months, and years ahead and feel better about what you are doing for your heart!

Let’s make this World Heart Day better than all others by joining together to raise awareness for cardiovascular disease and work to improve blood-pumpers across the globe!

You can reduce the chance of cardiovascular disease and increase life expectancy by eating healthy, exercising, and taking care of your body, and leave bad habits like smoking and abundant alcohol consumption in the past. But can it be reversed? Find out here!