World Heart Day 29th September 2018

World Heart Day is celebrated on the 29th September of every year. It is aimed at drawing people’s attention to heart illness and the range of associated health issues. The day is commemorated to promote different preventative steps and changes in lifestyle to avoid any cardiovascular diseases, like heart attack, stroke, heart failure and any other condition related to the same. On average, more than 17.5 million people die prematurely from heart-related illnesses every year.

Did you know?

• High blood glucose (blood sugar) can be indicative of diabetes.  CVD accounts for the majority of deaths in people with diabetes so it’s left undiagnosed and untreated it can put you at increased risk of heart disease and stroke.
• High blood pressure is one of the main risk factors for CVD.  It’s called the ‘silent killer’ because it usually has no warning signs or symptoms, and many people don’t realise they have it.
• Cholesterol is associated with around 4 million deaths per year so visit your healthcare professional and ask them to measure your levels, as well as your weight and body mass index (BMI).  They’ll then be able to advise on your CVD risk so you can plan to improve your heart health.

So this World Heart Day, it’s your opportunity to make a promise… a promise to cook and eat more healthily, to do more exercise and others to be more active, to say no to smoking and help your loved ones to stop.

Some examples of the daily changes you can make:

• Cut down on sugary beverages and fruit juices – choose water or unsweetened juices instead;
• Swap sweet, sugary treats for fresh fruit as a healthy alternative; Try to eat 5 portions (about a handful each) of fruit and veg a day – they can be fresh, frozen, tinned or dried;
• Keep the amount of alcohol you drink within recommended guidelines; Try to limit processed and prepackaged foods that are often high in salt, sugar and fat;
• Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity 5 times a week;
• Be more active every day – take the stairs, walk or cycle instead of driving;
• Say ‘No’ to smoking, it’s the single best thing you can do to improve your health.