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Why Heart Day?
Heart disease and stroke is the world's largest killer, claiming 17.5 million lives each year. That's why World Heart Day was created, to create public awareness of risk factors for heart disease and stroke and to promote preventive measures.
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The theme of this year's World Heart Day is “Team Up for Healthy Hearts!”
World Heart Day came into being in 1999 as an inspiration of then-WHF President, Dr. Antoni Bayés de Luna, who had the vision that all World Heart Federation members should, with one voice, spread the word about heart health and a heart for life. His dream has become a reality: World Heart Day is celebrated on the last Sunday in September every year.
World Heart Day is run by the World Heart Federation's member organizations in more than 100 countries. Activities on the day include health checks, walks, runs, jump rope, fitness sessions, public talks, stage shows, scientific forums, exhibitions, concerts and sports tournaments. Last year in Singapore for example, a World Heart Day heart fair attracted over 60,000 participants who took part in health screenings, aerobics classes, health quizzes, exhibits, school performances, nutritional counselling and food sampling. Similar events will be taking place this year asking participants: "How Young is Your Heart?"
Objective
To promote and create awareness among youth. As prevention is better than cure, early stages of awareness will promote a healthy lifestyle.
The physical activities are promoted to make youth understand how a healthy active lifestyle will prevent heart disease in the future.
"Heart disease and stroke is the world's largest killer, claiming 17.5 million lives a year. Eighty per cent of these lives are from populations in low- and middle-income countries, many amongst people of working age"
Physical activity is vitally important to maintain a healthy heart. Running for one hour or more each week could reduce the risk of heart disease by 42%. A brisk walking of 30 minutes each day has been found to reduce the risk of heart disease by about 18%2 and stroke by about 11%. Commuting to work by foot is a practical way of achieving this level of physical activity.
Physical inactivity increases the risk of obesity and overweight, diabetes and hypertension which make heart age run faster. The heart needs regular exercise to keep it pumping blood efficiently with every heart beat. Regular activity and its impact on associated risk factors helps to slow down the narrowing of the arteries to the heart and brain, encourages the body to use up excess stored fat, can help to reduce high blood pressure, improves "good" cholesterol levels (HDL cholesterol) and maintains normal blood glucose levels.
It is also important to balance calories consumed with calories burned to help maintain a healthy heart for life. A balanced diet includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grain products, lean meat, fish and pulses, alongside low-fat and fat-free products. Unsaturated soft margarines and oils such as sunflower, corn, rape-seed and olive oil are preferred to saturated fats.
Tobacco use is one of the most important risk factors to control. Quitting will help to keep the heart young as it helps maintain "good" cholesterol levels, reduces the levels of blood clotting and overall, decreases the chance of a sudden blockage of a blood vessel. According to the Framingham Heart Study, life duration is substantially shortened by tobacco users. Non-smokers may live about 8 years longer than smokers.4
World Heart Day, now in its eighth year
Studies from around the world show that parents play a key role in influencing the lifelong habits of their children which protect including a healthy diet, regular exercise and not using tobacco. Children should be reminded the way they eat, drink and move determines their future heart health,” said Professor Shahryar Sheikh, President of the World Heart Federation.
“Children’s habits are learned through observing others. Children as young as ten reflect the health habits of their family, peers and social environment and current research indicates that eating and exercise habits consolidate at this age and stay with people for life. Therefore, primary prevention of cardiovascular disease needs to start young with parents and other community groups recognizing the opportunity they have, to help.”
PRE EVENT ACTIVITIES
Walk A Mile
A one mile walk through the garden to promote walking as one of the best way to help develop strong heart.
The objective was to promote healthy lifestyle habit among the public as a preventive measure towards achieving good health and preventive of heart disease.
The public are invited to join our walks and enjoy the fun. The early birds are given T-shirts and all participants will receive a heart shape balloon, a lucky draw number and cereal breakfast with compliment from Nestle
A series of three exercise demonstration will be shown after the Walk-A-Mile event. Each demonstration will take approximately a 10 minutes period.
* Jump rope
* Line Dancing
* Fitball exercise
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