World Heart Day 2021: Use ❤️ To Connect Every ❤️

Overview

World Heart Day is observed each year on September 29. World Heart Day aims to spread awareness about the cardiovascular disease.

This year on World Heart Day, we’re asking the world to:

World Heart Day 2021

The healthcare crisis we’ve all been living through has highlighted an urgent need to find different and innovative ways to connect people to heart health, particularly in lower resource areas and communities. Harnessing the power of digital health to improve awareness, prevention and management of CVD globally is our goal for Word Heart Day 2021. Telehealth has a huge role to play as we continue to USE HEART TO BEAT CVD.

USE HEART TO CONNECT is about using your knowledge, compassion and influence to make sure you, your loved ones and the communities you’re part of have 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.

As the world still struggles to fight COVID-19, we’ve never been more aware of the importance of our own and our loved ones’ health.

USE HEART TO CONNECT

USE ❤️TO CONNECT EVERY
Half the world doesn’t have internet connectivity. So they can’t access digital tools to help prevent, diagnose and treat CVD. Disconnected hearts are vulnerable. Connected hearts are empowered.

USE ❤️ TO CONNECT WITH YOUR
Look after your heart by eating a healthy diet, saying no to tobacco and getting plenty of exercise. Digital tools, like phone apps and wearables, can help you get motivated and stay on track.

USE ❤️ TO CONNECT PEOPLE WITH
Digital networks have the power to connect patients with families, friends, other patients, doctors and carers. No one should have to feel alone, pandemic or not, so let’s use technology to overcome isolation and gaps in care.

USE ❤️ TO EAT WELL & DRINK WISELY

• 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.
• Limit processed foods that are often high in salt, sugar and fat – unpack and unwrap less, peel and cook more!
• Search online or download an app and get lots of heart-healthy recipe tips.

USE ❤️ TO GET MORE ACTIVE

• Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity 5 times a week.
• Or at least 75 minutes spread throughout the week of vigorous-intensity activity.
• Playing, walking, housework, dancing – they all count!
• Be more active every day – take the stairs, walk or cycle instead of driving.
• Stay fit at home – even if you’re on lockdown you can join virtual exercise classes and workouts for the whole family.
• Download an app or use a wearable device to keep track of your steps and progress.

USE ❤️ TO SAY NO TO TOBACCO

• It’s the single best thing you can do to improve your heart health.
• Within 2 years of quitting, the risk of coronary heart disease is substantially reduced.
• Within 15 years the risk of CVD returns to that of a non-smoker.
• Exposure to secondhand smoke is also a cause of heart disease in non-smokers.
• By quitting/not smoking you’ll improve both your health and the health of those around you.
• If you’re having trouble stopping, seek professional advice and ask your employer
• if they provide smoking-cessation services.

DID YOU KNOW?
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.

DID YOU KNOW?
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 take action to improve your heart health.

More info: https://world-heart-federation.org/

Related readings

• World Heart Day: #UseHeart to beat cardiovascular disease
• World Heart Day 2019: A simple promise …for MY HEART and for YOUR HEART
• Scale up prevention of heart attack and stroke- World Heart Day 2017 
• World Heart Day 2016 : Power your Life
• WORLD HEART DAY 2014
• My Heart, Your Heart #WorldHeartDay
• Accelerate action to prevent and control non-communicable diseases: WHO
• The top 10 causes of death
• WHO launches year-long campaign to help 100 million people quit tobacco
• World Stroke Day 2020! Know your risk and prevent a stroke!
• Tobacco responsible for 20% of deaths from coronary heart disease