Love Your Heart!

World Heart Day (celebrated annually on September 29th) is a global event to raise awareness and educate people about the world's biggest killer, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and promote ways to help keep our hearts healthy. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a general term for conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels and is one of the main causes of death and disability in the UK, but it can often largely be prevented by leading a healthy lifestyle.

Understanding the key risk factors can help to take proactive steps to protect our heart health. For cardiovascular disease, these can include:

• Unhealthy diet

• Physical inactivity

• Smoking

• Excessive drinking

• High blood pressure

• High cholesterol

World Heart Day is a day where various organisations and individuals come together to educate people about the importance of maintaining a healthy heart through regular exercise, a balanced diet, and lifestyle modifications. The goal is to reduce heart diseases and promote healthier living habits. Small changes in our lifestyle — such as what we eat and drink, how we manage stress and how much we exercise — can better manage our hearts and lower chances of CVD.

Measures to keep the hearty healthy:

• Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including eating a well, balanced diet and exercising regularly.

• Keeping body mass index (BMI) under control

• Monitoring high blood pressure and high cholesterol

• Understanding the early signs and symptoms and taking action

• Monitoring heart health through consultation and awareness programmes

• Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption

• Learn to manage stress and get quality sleep

Speak with your GP if you are concerned with the health of your heart, and take the steps to prevent CVD.