World Heart Day 2021

 

“A good heart is a beautiful home where you can always find peace!” 

World Heart Day 2021: World Heart Day is observed annually on September 29. It is celebrated to spread awareness about the importance of keeping the heart fit as it's one of the most important organs. 

World Heart Day 2021: Theme

This year, the theme for World Heart Day is ‘Use Heart To Connect’. It aims to highlight the power of digital health to improve awareness, prevention and management of CVD globally.

As the world struggles to fight Covid-19, cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the world's number one killer, and an estimated 17.9 million people died from CVDs in 2016, representing 31 per cent of all global deaths. Of these deaths, 85 per cent were due to heart attack and stroke. In 2016, India reported 63 per cent of total deaths due to NCDs, of which 27 per cent were attributed to CVDs. CVDs also account for 45 per cent of deaths in the 40-69-year age group.

At present, not only people above 40 but also below 40 are experiencing cardiac arrests. And there are multiple reasons that are contributing to increase the number of cardiac arrests all over the world.

Not all people who have heart attacks have the same symptoms or have the same severity of symptoms. Some people have mild pain; others have more severe pain. Some people have no symptoms. For others, the first sign may be sudden cardiac arrest. However, the more signs and symptoms you have, the greater the chance you're having a heart attack.

Some heart attacks strike suddenly, but many people have warning signs and symptoms hours, days or weeks in advance. The earliest warning might be recurrent chest pain or pressure (angina) that's triggered by activity and relieved by rest. Angina is caused by a temporary decrease in blood flow to the heart.

Factors responsible for heart attack include:

·        Age. Men age 45 or older and women age 55 or older are more likely to have a heart attack than are younger men and women.

·        Tobacco. This includes smoking and long-term exposure to secondhand smoke.

·        High blood pressure. Over time, high blood pressure can damage arteries that lead to your heart. High blood pressure that occurs with other conditions, such as obesity, high cholesterol or diabetes, increases your risk even more.

·        High blood cholesterol or triglyceride levels. A high level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol) is most likely to narrow arteries. A high level of triglycerides, a type of blood fat related to your diet, also increases your risk of a heart attack. However, a high level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ("good" cholesterol) may lower your risk.

·        Obesity. Obesity is linked with high blood cholesterol levels, high triglyceride levels, high blood pressure and diabetes. Losing just 10% of your body weight can lower this risk.

·        Diabetes. Not producing enough of a hormone secreted by your pancreas (insulin) or not responding to insulin properly causes your body's blood sugar levels to rise, increasing your risk of a heart attack.

·        Metabolic syndrome. This syndrome occurs when you have obesity, high blood pressure and high blood sugar. Having metabolic syndrome makes you twice as likely to develop heart disease than if you don't have it.

·        Family history of heart attacks. If your siblings, parents or grandparents have had early heart attacks (by age 55 for males and by age 65 for females), you might be at increased risk.

·        Lack of physical activity. Being inactive contributes to high blood cholesterol levels and obesity. People who exercise regularly have better heart health, including lower blood pressure.

·        Stress. You might respond to stress in ways that can increase your risk of a heart attack.

·        Illicit drug use. Using stimulant drugs, such as cocaine or amphetamines, can trigger a spasm of your coronary arteries that can cause a heart attack.

·        A history of preeclampsia. This condition causes high blood pressure during pregnancy and increases the lifetime risk of heart disease.

·        An autoimmune condition. Having a condition such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus can increase your risk of a heart attack.

Symptoms of heart attack include:

·        Pressure, tightness, pain, or a squeezing or aching sensation in your chest or arms that may spread to your neck, jaw or back

·        Nausea, indigestion, heartburn or abdominal pain

·        Shortness of breath

·        Cold sweat

·        Fatigue

·        Sudden dizziness

Prevention

It's never too late to take steps to prevent a heart attack — even if you've already had one. Here are ways to prevent a heart attack.

·        Medications. Taking medications can reduce your risk of a subsequent heart attack and help your damaged heart function better. Continue to take what your doctor prescribes, and ask your doctor how often you need to be monitored.

·        Lifestyle factors. You know the drill: Maintain a healthy weight with a heart-healthy diet, don't smoke, exercise regularly, manage stress and control conditions that can lead to a heart attack, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.

·        Limit alcohol: If you don't drink already, don't start. If you do drink, limit how much you drink. The recommendation is no more than one drink a day if you are a woman and no more than two a day if you are a man. Drinking raises your heart rate and blood pressure. It also increases the level of fat in your blood and can cause weight gain.

·        Control stress: You may feel anxious or frustrated at times. Make sure you open up to your family and friends about what’s going on. Support groups can help you learn how others adjusted to life after a heart attack or stroke.

“Health is too precious”, a healthy mind can live only in a healthy body.