Spotlight shines on World Heart Day
The aim of the World Heart Federation's Use Heart to Connect campaign is to help empower people to make healthy lifestyle choices.
THE World Heart Federation has found the world’s leading cause of death is linked to heart disease and strokes, killing 17.1 million people every year.
With World Heart Day acknowledged today, September 29, the World Heart Federation has called on people to Use Heart To Connect, the theme for 2021 campaign.
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The aim of the campaign is to improve a person’s health by making lifestyle changes and creating awareness on how to take care of your heart.
How to Use Heart To Connect:
The organisation said it was about using knowledge, compassion and influence to make sure people had the best chance to live heart-healthy lives.
“It’s about connecting with our own hearts, making sure we’re fuelling and nurturing them as best we can, and using the power of digital to connect every heart, everywhere,” said the federation.
Three key pillars to a heathy heart:
1. Equity
– Disconnected hearts are at greater risk of heart disease and stroke due to lack of access to cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention, treatment and control.
“Technology and data will help us bridge the gap and do it fast. It is about enabling and empowering everyone, everywhere to use digital tools for better prevention, diagnosis and care of heart-related conditions,” it said.
2. Prevention
– Look after your heart by following a healthy diet, saying no to tobacco and getting plenty of exercise.
“If you have an underlying health condition, such as heart disease, heart failure, diabetes, high blood pressure or obesity, don’t let Covid-19 stop you from attending your regular check-ups. Never avoid calling the emergency services if you need to,” said the federation.
3. Community
– There are 520 million people, globally, living with CVD that have been disproportionately affected by Covid-19 in the last year.
“Due to increased vulnerability to more severe forms of Covid-19, this population has been told they are vulnerable, at-risk and should shelter in place. There are many consequences of this, among them include missing medical appointments, lack of contact with family and friends and reduced physical exercise,” said the federation.
It noted that digital networks have the power to connect patients with families, friends, other patients, doctors and carers.
Sources:
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World Heart Federation
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