Today, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is responsible for claiming 17.5 million lives a year, with low to middle income countries carrying the burden. In the Philippines alone, 17% of people aged 30-70 die prematurely from CVD, including heart disease and stroke, but the good news is that at least 80% of these premature deaths could be avoided or postponed.
Created and led by the World Heart Federation (WHF) and in partnership with Manulife, World Heart Day aims to combat the rising number of people with CVD, the world’s biggest killer, by raising awareness and promoting the importance of living a heart-healthy lifestyle.
This year, on 29 September, WHF and Manulife are urging people to take action by sharing heart healthy tips and attending iconic illumination events. We can all inspire our families, friends and communities around the world to make the small lifestyle changes that can make a powerful difference to heart health.
Ryan Charland, President and CEO of Manulife Philippines, said: “We are committed to helping Filipinos achieve their dreams and aspirations, and believe that living a healthy and active lifestyle is essential for them to do so. We do our part by promoting it through our products and programs like ManulifeMOVE and on a bigger scale, joining hands with WHF. Over the next three years, we’ll be working closely with WHF to raise awareness about heart health and in the process, help improve the health of our customers, employees, and communities we’re a part of.”
Professor David Wood, Cardiologist and President of the World Heart Federation said: “We cannot underestimate the global importance of good heart health – 31% of all deaths worldwide are from CVD. World Heart Day is our chance to bring people together to tackle the world’s biggest killer and urge more people across the globe to improve their heart health. The power to change is in our hands. Making lifestyle changes such as eating more fruit and vegetables, keeping active and stopping smoking can save millions of lives.”
Members of the public can get involved by sharing their heart healthy selfies and tips using #WorldHeartDay and attending one of their local events (list available here). They can also see how heart smart they are using the Heart IQ test.
How can you be more heart-healthy? The World Heart Federation advises:
- Become moreactive
– Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intense activity five times a week.
– Remember even small things like taking the stairs or getting offthe
bus early can help - Stop smoking – this is the single best thing you can do to improve your heart health.
- A more balanced diet
- Try to eat 5 portions (about a handful) of fruit and veg aday
- Get your children involved in cooking to help them learn about healthy eating
- Get your blood pressure checked regularly
For more information and to view the World Heart Day please visit World Heart Day website: www.worldheartday.org.