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.
We want to bring this number down – way down. And there’s hope: 80% of premature deaths from CVD are preventable. By making small changes to our lifestyle – what we eat and drink, how much we exercise, and how we manage stress – we can better manage our heart health and beat CVD.
Spanning six continents, our hundreds of World Heart Federation (WHF) member organizations, the countless schools, universities, sports clubs and the vibrant cardiology community make World Heart Day (WHD) a truly global celebration.
Every year these groups and individuals bring their local flair, favor and colors to festivities, marking the day by sharing heart healthy regional specialties, leading a dance to get the whole community moving, and sharing life-saving lessons far and wide.
WHD established in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) to create a day that would raise awareness and mobilize international action against cardiovascular disease.
WHD becomes an annual event – bringing people together to increase awareness, engage communities, and advocate for universal access to CVD prevention, detection, and treatment.
WHD launches #UseHeart to encourage everyone to think about the many way they can use the biggest and most important muscle in their body.
Part of the fun of celebrating World Heart Day is making the day your own –deciding how you or your organization wants to contribute to making a real difference. This could be a 5K run for everyone at your company, a heart-healthy menu in the school cafeteria or a CPR class for your sports club. No matter what you decide, you can find help and resources on the World Heart Day website, including a toolkit to make communicating and organizing your event a success.
We want to stand out on World Heart Day. Every year we make our mark in cities around the world, illuminating iconic and local landmarks red. We’ve also taken to the streets and shared a more permanent message in Barcelona’s Jardins de les 3 Xemeneies grafitti park. This is how we try to make sure we reach hearts of all ages, backgrounds and nationalities.
Keep an eye out for events and heart-shaped activations in your neighborhood this World Heart Day!
Access resources, create your own poster, take part in the World Heart Day Challenge, submit a landmark photo. There are many ways you can celebrate.
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