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Every year, over 17 million people die from heart disease. As a way to fight this, the World Heart Federation created World Heart Day. It’s an event held every year on September 29.
BY THE NUMBERS
115,000 – the number of times our heart beats in a day.
2,000 – the number of gallons of blood pumped by the heart every day.
1893 – the year in which the first open-heart surgery occurred.
3,500 – the age in years of an Egyptian mummy in which the earliest-known case of heart disease was identified.
1,200 – the fastest heartbeat per minute — that of the pygmy shrew.
1 pound – the weight of the human heart.
60,000 – the number of miles our blood vessel system can extend to.
1,500 pounds – the weight of a blue whale’s heart.
1.5 gallons – the amount of blood pumped by our heart each minute.
World Heart Day is observed and celebrated annually on September 29, with the aim of increasing awareness of cardiovascular diseases and how to control them to negate their global impact. The international holiday was established by the World Heart Federation in collaboration with the World Health Organization. The president of the World Heart Federation from 1997 to 1999, Antoni Bayés de Luna, had conceived this idea. The first celebration of the annual event took place on September 24, 2000, and, until 2011, World Heart Day was observed on the last Sunday in September.
WHY WORLD HEART DAY IS IMPORTANT
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It’s for your heart — and all our hearts
As the World Heart Federation says, September 29 is all about asking yourself: “What can I do right now to look after my heart…and your heart?”
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It highlights worldwide events
World Heart Day is a universal platform that has the capability to focus attention on the millions who die from heart disease each year. Through worldwide events, the day offers health and fitness tips so people can lead a life free of cardiovascular ailments.
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It encourages people to take action
By offering a variety of fun, healthy events — walks, runs, public talks, concerts, etc. — the day can inspire you to fight cardiovascular disease and live a longer, healthier life.
HOW TO OBSERVE WORLD HEART DAY
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Designate the day for a checkup
You may even be able to find a World Heart Day event near you that’s offering health check services. It doesn’t get much easier than that!
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Get your heart rate up with fitness events
Maintaining a healthy weight and low Body Mass Index (BMI) can help decrease your chances of developing heart disease. Whether you decide to attend a gym or fitness class — or prefer to get involved at a World Heart Day event — try to make being active a priority.
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Schedule life-changing seminars
Most cardiac emergencies occur near someone who could potentially help — so setting up a CPR class and learning how to resuscitate a person could save lives. Cooking demonstrations, health lectures, and fitness lessons are also great events to plan for World Heart Day.
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