World Heart Day:

‘One World, One Home, One Heart’

Dr Mohan JAYATILAKE-Consultant Cardiologist,Past President of Sri Lanka Heart Association

World Heart Day was created in 2000 to inform around the world that heart disease and strokes are the world's leading cause of death claiming 17.3 million lives each year with 82 percent of deaths occurring in low and middle income countries.

World Heart Day takes place on September 29 each year. Together with its members the World Heart Federation spreads the news that at least 80 percent of premature deaths from heart disease and strokes could be avoided if the main risk factor - tobacco smoke, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity are controlled. National activities such as public talks, heart screening, walks, runs, concerts, or sport events are arranged worldwide by members of World Heart Federation to create public awareness.

In Sri Lanka also Heart Walk is organized in front of Galle Face with the blessings of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, organizing seminars at Temple Trees in collaboration with Sri Lanka Heart Association. This will certainly disseminate the World Heart Day message among the people.

World Heart Day 2012 key image and theme

One World, One Home, One Heart

This year in continuation from our 2011 theme of Home, Heart, Health, we will make 2012 the year of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) prevention among Women and Children because -

* CVD is commonly considered as ‘older person’ and a ‘man's disease’

* Women underestimate their CVD risk, even though almost half the 17.3 million annual deaths occur in women.

* Children are at risk since they have little control over the environment and can be limited heart healthy living.

* Unless action is taken to enable heart healthy activities the children of today are at increased CVD risk later in life.

Women and children

It is a myth that heart disease and strokes only effect older males, rich population. CVD affects many women as well as men.

However, their risk is seriously underestimated. In World Heart Day members urge you to take action to save the lives of women and children you care.

In fact, heart disease is actually the number one killer of women causing 1 in 3 female deaths, that is about 1 death per minute. It is important that women learn the truth about their CVD risk and take action to protect themselves and the family.

Learn how to take action

Urgent action to be taken to protect heart of children is to avoid physical, emotional and financial impact of heart disease and stroke.

1. Get active - 30 minutes moderate intensity activity, five times per week reduces the risk.

2. Eat a Heart Health Diet - A diet rich in fruit and vegetables prevents heart disease and stroke.

a) Make healthy food for children, choose colourful food and include them in cooking.
b) Limit salt intake - 1 teaspoonful a day
c) Use smaller plates, with larger portion of fruits and vegetables than meat.
d) Swap chocolates or other sweets for alternative treats such as mango or other fruits.

3. Say no to tobacco -

* Educate children on the danger of tobacco
* Ban smoking in your home
* If it is hard to stop smoking, visit your health care professional

4. Know your numbers - visit your Dr. to check your BP, cholesterol, glucose levels, together with hip ratio and body mass index (BMI).

Programme in schools, pre-schools, in communities, that address the need to improve diets and to promote physical activity, should be started.

Unhealthy diet and physical inactivity are critical health threats for the poor, and major cause of non-communicable diseases (NCD). In the past two decades obesity rates have tripled.

Breast feeding and lifelong health

Breast feeding is the best form of nutrition for newborns and infants according to WHO. Increasing public awareness is important, infants who are breastfed tend to have lower cholesterol and blood pressure, as well as, lower rates of overweight and obesity which can all improve cardiac health.

Both undernourished and overnourished, early in life can increase risk for developing CVD. Evidence suggest that children who are undernourished while in uterus and at childbirth bear a higher CVD risk later in life. Maternal obesity during pregnancy has been associated with obesity in children, which also increase the risk of developing CVD in life. As always our emphasis will be on improving Heart Health across all nation in adult male and female as well as children.

By adopting lifestyle changes, people all over the world can have longer and better lives through the prevention and control of Heart Disease and Strokes.