Wednesday 29th September was World Heart Day 2021, created by the World Heart Federation which is celebrated every year. Through this campaign, the World Heart Federation unites people from all countries and backgrounds in the fight against the CVD burden and inspires and drives international action to encourage heart-healthy living across the world.
Heart disease and stroke is the world’s leading cause of death claiming 18.6 million lives each year (1) and World Heart Day aims to drive action to educate people that by controlling risk factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, at least 80% of premature deaths from heart disease and stroke could be avoided.
It is a global campaign during which individuals, families, communities, and governments around the world participate in activities to take charge of their heart health and that of others.
The first World Heart Day took place back in 2000. Since then, in 2012, leaders from around the globe committed to the reduction of worldwide mortality from non-communicable diseases by 25 percent by 2025. (2)
The theme of this year's World Heart Day was 'use heart to connect' and the hashtag focused on finding methods of connecting people to heart health - especially in areas with insufficient resources.
The World Heart Federation called on the international community to bring digital cardiovascular health services to millions worldwide and many got involved on social media using #UseHeartToConnect to spread awareness, share tips and encouraging messages.
Others get involved by organising activities like marathons, walks, public talks, fitness sessions, exhibitions and science fairs. Some landmarks, monuments, and famous buildings choose to go red on this day as a show of cardiovascular disease awareness. (3)
More than 90 countries take part in this international observance every year. As a result, World Heart Day has proven to be an effective means for disseminating information about CVD. The high level of involvement from governments and organizations is most important for developing countries, which are heavily affected by these diseases. (4)
Their website is very informative and allows people to get involved by creating your own custom World Heart Day poster. It also provides inspirational stories shared from individuals and has many informative resources to download and share across social media channels.
For more information, click here
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