World Heart Day was established in the year 2000 to raise awareness about cardiovascular diseases all over the world.
The World Heart Foundation claims that annually, heart problems like strokes and such, take 17.5 million lives, 80% of which are usually from developing countries. This awareness day takes place every year on 29th of September.
Various themes are followed for this subject matter since it was first celebrated in 2000.
The World Heart Federation exists exclusively so that cardiovascular diseases are campaigned for in order to prevent and control their spread. They promote information and the science behind the reason for their campaigns for cardiovascular care. The Federation also advocated for disease prevention and control by endorsing healthier diets, activities to keep the body in good shape along with promoting a tobacco-free life.
The World Heart Federation wasn’t always around as it was known as the International Society of Cardiology, which was originally established in the year 1946 and the International Cardiology Federation which had come about in the year 1970.
These two organizations merged in the year 1978 and became the International Society and Federation of Cardiology, which then became the World Heart Federation, which we all know in the year 1998.
Only two years after its formation, the Federation brought forth the World Heart Day which is acknowledged by the United Nations as well and has been endorsed by World Health Organization Member States at the 65th World Health Assembly.
The Federation encourages action to be taken by policymakers, healthcare practitioners and professionals, societies and other NGOs to divide the responsibility of caring for the heart.
The target set by the Federation, for now, is known as “25 by 25”. It is called so because they aim to reduce cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes or chronic respiratory disease mortality rate by 25% by the year 2025.
Visit their site to know more about this cause; the World Heart Federation shares a variety facts and information such as what statistics to look after your heart, along with a guide to base your diet on.
The World Heart Federation is also focused on a tobacco-free world as all the illnesses that come through it are preventable. As mentioned on their site, secondhand smoke kills more than 600,000 non-smokers every year, including children; this fact has been attested by the World Health Organization as well.
For the past three years, various monuments all over the world light up red as an endorsement to World Heart Day.
This World Heart Day, the Federation wants to use the power of your heart to inspire all those around you to start living healthier by doing small acts such as eating healthier and cutting down on smoking.
Get involved by using the hashtag of “#worldheartday”. You can also tweet to them and tag them in your Facebook posts at “@worldheartday”.
Get involved and Share The Power.