Day in and day out, the world over, it is the heart that decides in which direction humanity will progress. Matters of war and peace, love and hate, all rest upon one organ – the heart. Yet it is the most abused organ of the human body. We overwork it and don’t take care of it. We actually neglect this most priced possession of ours and need a World Heart Day to remind us of the importance of this precious organ.
This World Heart Day, let us quickly take a look at the alarming statistics of heart-related diseases to shake us out of our complacency. Here is what World Heart Foundation says:
“The World Heart Foundation organises World Heart Day, an international campaign held on September 29 every year to inform people about cardiovascular diseases, which are the biggest cause of death.”
According to WHO, about 17.5 million people died from cardiovascular disease in 2005, representing 30 per cent of all global deaths.
So, one thing is clear, if you and I don’t die of nuclear war or terror strike, we will surely die of heart disease, if we don’t value this precious gift of nature to us. Ultimately, we are the one-man army that has to take care of the heart. Otherwise…..
- Raised blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels
- Smoking
- Inadequate intake of fruit and vegetables
- Obesity
…all this takes a toll on the heart and poof! Before you know it, your story will be over!
So why not protect it while there is still time? There are events galore in every city all over the world today to ‘pump’ in the message of the benefits of having a healthy heart.
Let us take a look at a few of them:
Do you smoke? If yes, quit. It is the single most controllable factor for heart-related diseases and it is entirely in your hands. Ask your heart to send signals to your mind Quit! Quit! Quit! Believe me, your heart knows best. It will send a signal.
Heavy midriff? Extra weight in the middle can lead to extra problems. And these are, high blood pressure and raised lipids that make the heart groan. Count the calories and how about some push-ups?
No hobbies? Have one. Do anything. Paint, knit, draw, play games, embroider, fix things in the house.
Lazy bum? No good for you. Get up and do some household work. Mop, scrub, clean, dust…
Don’t move your butt? Get up for Heaven’s sake! Those legs are meant for walking not sitting pretty.
Not a nutty buddy? Time to be one. Please develop a taste for almonds, walnuts…
Black a no-no? Say yes to black tea and dark chocolate. It does wonders to the heart.
Salt and sugary? Better to say no to everything white – sugar and salt and refined flour.
No libido? Perk up your sexual desires. Play it between the sheets. There is enough evidence to prove that having sex lowers blood pressure. What else do you want?
Apart from all this, laugh a lot, take the stairs instead of the lift, renew your interest in your surroundings and walk back home, don’t order your veggies, go to the store. One look at the exotic colours and your heart will flutter. Talk to your neighbours, don’t harbour grudges, love a lot.
This year’s theme: Harnessing the power of digital health to improve awareness, prevention and management of CVD globally.
