WORLD HEART DAY

29, September, 2014

WORLD HEART DAY- ORIGIN

World Heart Day is an annual event that falls on 29 September of every year .

World Heart day was founded by World Heart Foundation in 2000 to inform people around the globe that heart disease and stroke are the world’s leading causes of death, claiming 17.3 million lives each year. 

The World Heart Federation is the world's only global body dedicated in leading the fight against heart disease and stroke via a united community of almost 200 member organizations . The World Heart Federation mainly focuses on low-and middle-income countries.

SOME FACTS ABOUT

HEART

William Harvey

William Harvey, an English Physician , was the first to describe completely and in detail the systemic circulation and properties of blood being pumped to the body by the heart.

SOME FACTS ABOUT HEART…Heart start function from 4 Weeks of conception and does not stop until death.

Each minute about 4.7 Liters of blood flow through your heart to deliver life sustaining oxygen and nutrients to 300 trillion cells in our body.

In a 70-year lifetime an average human heart beats more than 2.5 billion times.

Our body has 5.6 liters of blood. Heart circulates blood through the body 3 times every minute.

The mass of a human heart is between 200 g - 450 g, however approximately it is 300 g.

Risks of Cardio Vascular Diseases

Hypertension Hypercholesterole

miaDiabetes mellitusHomocysteineC-Reactive ProteinExerciseObesityCigarette smokingHomocysteine is a common amino acid (one of the building blocks that make up proteins) found in the blood and is acquired mostly from eating meat. High levels of homocysteine are related to the early development of heart and blood vessel disease. The body produces CRP during the general process of inflammation.

C-Reactive Protein(CRP ) levels seem to be correlated with levels of heart disease risk. In fact, CRP seems to predict cardiovascular risk at least as well as cholesterol levels do.

Ageing(As people age, Cardiovascular system becomes weaker)

Genetics(People who have direct family members with a history of heart diseases are at a higher risk of developing it themselves)

Life style (Aspects of everyday life from work, stress to lack of exercise and tension can increase the risk of CVDs)

Diet (Food rich in fat, Salt and sugar as well as food containing alcohol, increases the risk of angiosclerosis (a thickening and hardening of the walls of the blood vessels) and can cause high BP)

TYPES OF HEART DISEASES

CORONORAY HEART DISEASES:Blocked or clogged arteries limit blood flow to the heart and starving it of Oxygen and nutrients.

ARRHYTHMIA:The heart beats irregularly.

HEART FAILURE:The heart cannot pump powerfully, as it needs to join in order to supply the body with oxygen and nutrients, causing the heart muscles to over work and weaken.

TYPES OF HEART DISEASES

HEART VALVE DISEASES:One or more of the heart’s valves-which control blood flow into and out of the heart-doesn’t work.

CARDIOMYOPATHY:An enlarged or abnormally stiff or thick heart causing the heart to pump weaker than normal and sometimes leading to heart failure or arrhythmia (irregular heart beat).

PERICARDITIES:An inflammation of one or more layers of the pericardium, a thin membrane that lines the heart

TYPES OF HEART DISEASES

AORTIC DISEASE:The aorta is the largest artery in the body. Oxygen-rich blood enters the aorta and the heart pumps the blood out of the aorta where it travels to the rest of the body via the smaller arteries that branch out from it. A portion of the aortic wall weakens and balloons out, forming an aneurrysm.

VASCULAR DISEASES:Heart disease is often related to diseases of the circulatory system, including arteries, veins and lymph vessels, or blood disorders.

HOW TO PREVENT CARDIO VASCULAR DISEASES ?

• Have blood pressure checked regularly. If screenings detect that blood pressure values are not in the normal range, more frequent screenings may be necessary.

• High blood pressure is sometimes called a silent killer because it may have no outward symptoms for years.

1. REDUCE HYPERTENSION

2. REDUCE THE RISK OF DIABETIES

Heart diseases and stroke are the No. 1 causes of death and disability among people with type 2 diabetes.

In fact, at least 65 percent of people with diabetes die from some form of heart disease or stroke.

Adults with diabetes are two to four times more likely to have heart disease or a stroke than adults without diabetes..

3. MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WEIGHT

Carrying extra weight not only increases your risk of high blood pressure, it also makes you more likely to develop cholesterol problems and diabetes.

Calculate your body mass index (BMI) to determine if you have excess body fat

A BMI of 25 or higher is considered overweight and is associated with elevated heart disease risk.

Use a tape to measure your waist circumference. A measurement of 40 inches or above is considered overweight for men, and a measurement of 35 inches or above is overweight for women. Because abdominal fat is especially dangerous and associated with an increased risk of heart disease, waist circumference measurements are an effective tool in weight management.

Have cholesterol levels checked frequently.

4. BALANCED DIETChoose foods that are low in unhealthy fats and cholesterol. Eliminate all trans-fat and saturated fat from your diet. Tran-fat is the most dangerous type of fat and is linked to a host of negative side effects. Both types of fat are linked to increases in blood pressure and an elevated risk of developing heart disease.

Avoid red meat, full-fat dairy products, palm oils, fried foods, packaged foods, margarine, and processed baked goods.

Pay attention to your portion size when eating. Refrain from overeating, which can lead to excess fat, cholesterol and calorie intake.

Add fruits and leafy vegetables in the diet.

Add flaxseed to your diet. Flaxseeds are high in fiber and omega-3 fatty acids, and can help to lower cholesterol levels.

5. REGULAR EXERCISE

• Regular exercise is one of the best ways to prevent and control high blood pressure & control cholesterol.

• It Helps you maintain a healthy weight

• Brisk Walking (20-30 minutes/day) the easiest exercise, it's the simplest way to get fit, stay in shape and strengthen your heart and bones.

6. REDUCE SALT INTAKE

• Limiting the amount of salt in your diet can be saved millions of life from heart disease, stroke and other ailments.

• The daily intake of salt per day shall be :• less than 15 to 23 g. ADA (American Diabetes

Association).• 15g. Per day AHA (American Heart Association

• The main source of sodium in our diet is salt. It can come from sodium glutamate and sodium chloride, and is used as a condiment in many parts of the world. In many countries, 80% of salt intake comes from processed foods such as bread, cheese, bottled sauces, cured meats and ready-made meals.

7. AVOID THE USE OF TOBACCO

Refrain from smoking.

Eliminate exposure to all tobacco products, including chewing tobacco. 

Stay away from smokeless tobacco. It contains nicotine, which narrows your blood vessels, forcing your heart to work harder. This leads to an increase in blood pressure and elevates your heart rate, which increases your risk of heart disease.

8. STRESS

Manage stress….

Identify situations in your life that cause stress and try to eliminate or modify them. 

Learn coping mechanisms for sources of stress that cannot be eliminated, such as stress in the workplace.

Explore stress relief options such as yoga, meditation, visualization, aromatherapy and deep breathing techniques etc.

Laugh.Laughing lowers blood pressure and heart rate, and may improve the lining of the blood vessels.

GET ENOUGH SLEEP

Take measures to improve your sleep quality and ensure that you get 7-8 hours of sleep each night.

Limit caffeine consumption and cut out all caffeine after 2 pm.

Try to go to sleep at the same time every night to regulate your sleep-wake cycle.

Exercise regularly to boost serotonin levels.

Refrain from watching television or using a laptop while in bed.

Serotonin is one of the most important brain chemicals, or neurotransmitters, for regulating the sleepwake cycle. Diets high in the amino acid tryptophan can maintain healthy serotonin levels, but lifestyle choices like constant travel and an erratic sleep schedule can disrupt serotonin production. When serotonin levels are not normal, sleep disturbances and other issues can result, including depression and chronic fatigue syndrome.

9. LIMIT ALCOHOL INTAKE

• Drinking alcohol in moderation is generally not harmful and may even have some heart health benefits, but drinking too much has been shown to lead to high blood pressure and other serious health problems.

• Limit your alcohol intake to one drink per day if you are a woman or two drinks per day if you are a man.

Apart from the above, Regular medical check-ups and medication are essential to control your cardio vascular diseases.

Take care of your heart

10. Regular medication & Consultation

This year, the theme of World Heart Day is Creating Heart-healthy Environments. The places in which we live, work and play should not increase our risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). But individuals frequently cannot make heart-healthy choices due to environmental factors, such as the availability of healthy food or smoke-free zones.

THEME OF WORLD HEART DAY- 2014

The slogan of WHO on World Heart Day 2014 is : Salt Reduction Saves Lives