World Heart Day 2008, Sunday 28th September - Know Your Risk!

Main Category: Heart Disease
Article Date: 10 Jun 2008 - 0:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

By the year 2025 it is estimated that more than 1.5 billion people[1], or nearly one in three adults over the age of 25, will have high blood pressure, one of the biggest single risk factors for heart disease and stroke, the world's number one killer. There are no obvious symptoms of high blood pressure, and the only way to know is to visit your health-care professional for a check-up. That's why this year's World Heart Day on Sunday 28th September will be urging people to "Know Your Risk!"

Heart disease and stroke causes 17.5 million deaths each year, as many deaths as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and diabetes plus all forms of cancer and chronic respiratory disease combined[2]. "Not enough of us are aware of this and whether our own lifestyle and heritage could be contributing to our risk of developing heart disease and stroke. It is never too early and never too late to start taking care of your heart," said Professor Shahryar Sheikh, President of the World Heart Federation.

World Heart Day is run by the World Heart Federation's member organizations in over 100 countries. World Heart Day activities include health checks, organised walks, runs and fitness sessions, public talks, stage shows, scientific forums, exhibitions, concerts, carnivals and sports tournaments.

"The number of those affected by high blood pressure is predicted to increase by 50 per cent over the coming years, but this doesn't have to be inevitable," said Professor Sheikh. "By adopting suitable lifestyle changes and reducing the risk, the picture really can change for the better."

The level of risk for heart disease and stroke is a combination of modifiable and non-modifiable factors, of which high blood pressure is one of the most important. High blood pressure, or hypertension, currently affects more than a billion people worldwide[3] and can damage the body every day that it is too high. There are usually no obvious signs of high blood pressure but the good news is that it is easy for health-care professionals to detect and usually controllable with lifestyle changes and/or medication.

"By finding out your level of risk you are taking a simple but significant step towards preventing your life being affected by hypertension. If you know your blood pressure, in particular, your blood cholesterol and your blood sugar levels combined with your height, weight and waist measurement, your health-care professional will be able to advise you what specific actions should be taken to reduce your risk of suffering from heart disease or stroke. So you can have a heart for life," said Professor Shahryar Sheikh.

Heart disease and stroke can be better prevented by regular exercise, no smoking and a healthier diet, low in salt and fat and rich in fibres, fresh vegetables and fruit. Studies have shown that increased consumption of fruit and vegetables from less than three to more than five servings a day is related to a 17% reduction in coronary heart disease[4]. High blood pressure in particular is closely related to excessive consumption of salty foods.

There is a vast public misperception and disproportional lack of attention paid to people's risk of heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure in relation to more sensational health issues. As a result people tend to overestimate the number of deaths from rarer and infrequent risks while underestimating those from more common causes such as heart disease and stroke. World Heart Day 2008 aims to redress the balance. "Know Your Risk!"

For more information on risk factors for heart disease and stroke, you can also consult http://www.worldheartday.com and http://www.who.int/cardiovascular_diseases/en

About the World Heart Federation

The World Heart Federation is a nongovernmental organization based in Geneva Switzerland dedicated to the prevention and control of heart disease and stroke, with a focus on low- and middle-income countries. It comprises 196 member societies of cardiology and heart foundations from over 100 countries covering the regions of Asia-Pacific, Europe, East Mediterranean, the Americas and Africa. For further information, visit: http://www.worldheart.org

References

[1] AHA, Journal Report 04/10/2007
[2] WHO 2005 - Preventing Chronic Diseases: A Vital Investment
[3] AHA, Journal Report 04/10/2007
[4] He I FJ, Nowson CA, et al. Increased Consumption of Fruit and Vegetables is related to a Reduced Risk of Coronary Heart Disease: Meta-analysis of Cohort Studies. Journal of Human Hypertension 2007; 21: 717-28.

World Heart Federation