Celebrate World Heart Day – September 29, 2015
Celebrate World Heart Day
World Heart Day, celebrated on September 29, helps raise awareness about cardiovascular disease (CVD) across the globe. Did you know that CVD leads to 17.3 million deaths a year? The statistics are alarming, but there are some simple things you can do to be heart healthy.
Fun Facts
- It is a myth that CVD mostly affects affluent, male, older populations – it can affect all ages and population groups, including women and children.
- There are 1,000,000 number of babies born each year worldwide with acongenital heart defect.
- Worldwide, one in 10 school children are estimated to be overweight, a risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
- After stopping smoking for 15 years, the risk of heart attack falls to the same level that it would be for someone who has never smoked.
- 600,000 – number of non-smokers, including children, are killed each year from exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke. Half of the world’s children regularly breathe air polluted by tobacco smoke. Smoking causes 10% of CVD.
- Heart disease causes 1 in 3 female deaths each year.
Quick Tips on Making Healthy Heart Choices
- Take public transportation, bike to work or take the stairs whenever possible!
- Reduce your portion sizes of less healthy food and increase the portion size of healthy food.
- Do your house chores!
- Say NO to tobacco!