September 29th is World Heart Day!

by Chelsea Smith

September 29th is World Heart Day (WHD). This is a day to raise awareness for cardiovascular disease (CVD), including heart disease and stroke, which is the world's leading cause of death. WHD educates us on the risk factors for cardiovascular disease such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity. For example, cholesterol can be harmful to heart health and can hide in certain foods such as fried foods, fast foods, processed meats, and desserts (https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/high-cholesterol-foods#foods-to-avoid). 

This day unites people from across the world in the fight against cardiovascular disease and inspires international action to encourage healthy and mindful living. Here are some steps you can take to lower your risk of CVD (see https://world-heart-federation.org/what-is-cvd/ for more information): 

• Eat a healthy and balanced diet 

• Exercise regularly 

• Maintain a healthy body weight 

• Avoid tobacco and alcohol use 

• Monitor your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar 

• Take your medications as prescribed 

• Be aware of the warning signs for CVD 

We invite you to take the 7-day challenge! We challenge you to educate one friend about CVD each day for the week to help spread knowledge about CVD risk factors and ways you can take steps toward a healthier heart. 

Check out the World Heart Day foundation's website for more information on cardiovascular disease and the organization: https://world-heart-federation.org/world-heart-day/cvd-causes-conditions/what-is-cvd/.