TEHRAN – September 29 is held annually as the World Heart Day. This year’s theme is “Use heart, Know heart", a reminder call to everyone around the world to take care of their hearts.

The day is celebrated by organizing various activities and awareness events globally to raise awareness about heart disease and its preventive measures to manage cardiovascular diseases. 

The event mainly focuses on educating people about the signs and symptoms of cardiovascular disease to avoid any further complications and encouraging people to inculcate a healthy lifestyle to prevent and control any heart-related ailments.

This year's theme emphasizes the crucial process of getting to know one's own heart first because one can only love and protect what they are aware of.

In a world where knowledge about heart health is limited and policies are insufficient or lacking, the day aims to shatter barriers and empower individuals to take control of their well-being, as the theme depicts that when we know more, we can take better care.

The idea of having Heart Day globally was introduced by Antoni Baie de Luna, former president of the World Health Federation, based on his ideas along with the collaboration of the World Health Organization, World Heart Day was established in 1999.

In 2012, with the idea to curb the global mortality due to non-communicable diseases by 25 percent by 2025, global leaders came together and urged to the world to actively participate in this cause and 29 September, was marked as World Heart Day.

More than 90 countries participate on this day to organize awareness campaigns to raise awareness and educate people about cardiovascular health.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the world’s number one killer. Combined, conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels – such as heart attack, stroke, and heart failure – kill more than 20.5 million every year. The majority of these deaths happen in low- and middle-income countries.

Heart diseases responsible for 40% of annual deaths in Iran

“Cardiovascular diseases, mainly heart attacks, account for 40 percent of annual death in the country. Car accidents, diabetes, and cancers are the next important risk factors among non-communicable diseases,” ISNA quoted Kourosh Etemad, a health ministry official, as saying.

In addition to high blood pressure, low physical activity, unhealthy diet, smoking, and drinking alcohol are four risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.

Those aged 30 and older are suggested to go to health centers to be checked for probable high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart diseases.

A three-month, six-month, and one-year care plan will be arranged for those who visit health centers based on their age, family history, and overweight. This program helps to detect the disease earlier or control the risk factors in people.

Unfortunately, in our country, as in many other countries of the world, half of the people are unaware of their high blood pressure disease. Only 50 percent of those who are aware of their high blood pressure take medicine.

This means that in addition to informing people about their disease, we must also give the necessary recommendations regarding its control and treatment.