World Heart Day:
'One world, one home, one heart'
Dr. Mohan Jayatilake
World Heart Day was created in year 2000 to inform people around the
globe that heart disease and stroke are the world's leading cause of
death claiming 17.1 million lives each year, with 82 percent of deaths
occurring in low and middle income countries.
World Heart Day falls on September 29 each year.
Together
with its members, World Heart Federation spreads the news that at least
80 percent of premature deaths from heart disease and stroke could be
avoided if the main risk factors, smoking, unhealthy diet, physical
inactivity, high BP, high blood cholesterol and diabetes are controlled.
National activities such as public talks and cardiovascular
screenings, walks, runs, concerts or sports events are organized
worldwide by members and partners of World Heart Federation.
In Sri Lanka public seminars are being organized by Nawaloka Hospital
and Lanka Hospitals in Colombo in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Heart
Association to commemorate World Heart Day for public awareness.
World Heart Day 2011 theme is 'One world, one home and one heart'.
One world
Global leaders have recognized the urgency to give the priority to
prevention and control of heart disease together with non-communicable
diseases (NCDs) which include cancer, diabetes, chronic lung disease by
holding the first ever United Nation High Level meeting on NCDs in
September 2011.
One home
This year we call on individuals to reduce their own their family's
risk of Heart disease and stroke. The household is the perfect place to
start taking action to improve heart health. We ask people to take
charge of their home's heart health by taking steps such as choosing
healthy food options, increasing physical activity and saying no to
tobacco.
You and your family can take four
steps
1. Ban smoking from your home. Stop smoking in the house to improve
your own and your children's heart health.
2. Healthy food options at home -
a) Start the day with a piece of fruit or prepare your own lunch at
home to ensure healthy options are taken to work or school.
b) Make sure every evening meal contains at least two-three servings
of vegetables.
c) Be careful of processed food which often contain high levels of
salt.
d) Drink lots of water.
3. Be active
a) Families should limit the amount of time spent watching TV to less
than two hours per day.
b) Organize outdoor activities for the family. Eg; Cycling, playing
in the garden, hiking etc.
c) Just a 30 minute walk at least five days per week will help
prevent heart attacks and strokes.
4. Know your numbers
a) Visit your doctor or health care professional for your blood
pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels together with waist to hip
ratio and body mass index (BMI)
By doing the household steps above, you and your family can reduce
the burden of heart disease though not all heart diseases are
preventable.
One heart
As always our emphasis will be on improving heart health across all
nations.
By adapting a few household behaviours, people all over the world can
have longer and better lives through the prevention and control of heart
disease and stroke.
The writer is the
President, Sri Lanka Heart Association |