Cardiovascular diseases are the world’s largest killers, claiming 17.1 million lives a year. Risk factors for heart disease and stroke include raised blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels, smoking, inadequate intake of fruit and vegetables, overweight, obesity and physical inactivity.
In partnership with WHO, the World Heart Federation organizes awareness events in more than 100 countries - including health checks, organized walks, runs and fitness sessions, public talks, stage shows, scientific forums, exhibitions, concerts, carnivals and sports tournaments.
World Heart Day was created to inform people around the globe that heart disease and stroke are the world’s leading cause of death, claiming 17.2 million lives each year.
Together with its members, the World Heart Federation spreads the news that at least 80% of premature deaths from heart disease and stroke could be avoided if the main risk factors, tobacco, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, are controlled.
World Heart Day will be held on Sunday, 27 September 2009 to inspire you to “Work with Heart”.
Activities organized by members and partners of the World Heart Federation will include runs, public talks, concerts, sporting events and much more.
The story "work with heart"
Over 17.2 million people die each year from cardiovascular diseases, making these the leading cause of death worldwide. Yet 80% of premature deaths from heart disease and stroke could be avoided by controlling the main risk factors: tobacco, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity. Millions of productive life-years are lost annually, posing significant threats to the vitality of our highly-interdependent global system, especially in the context of the current financial crisis.
Businesses around the world, as well as leading organizations such as the World Health Organization and the World Economic Forum have recognized the importance of employee health to achieve core business objectives. Many have committed to include health promotion on their corporate agenda.
Yet it is mostly large corporations in developed countries that offer workplace health programmes.
There is an urgent need to extend these benefits to all employees, in other industries and sectors, and in other parts of the world. In particular, workers in low- and middle-income countries, where over 80% of deaths from cardiovascular disease currently occur, could benefit greatly from the implementation of such programmes.
Why Workplace Wellness?
As part of its commitment to the World Economic Forum initiative “Working Towards Wellness”1, World Heart Day 2009 has been dedicated to this theme. Almost half of those who die from chronic diseases are in their productive years. The economic consequences - driven by productivity reduction and increase in costs caused by these diseases among workforces - are dramatic. The WHO estimates that between 2005-2015 income loss (in international dollars) could rise to as much as $558 billion in China, $237 billion in India, $303 billion in Russia and $33 billion in the UK.
Countries such as Brazil, China, Russia and India currently lose more than 20 million productive life-years annually to chronic disease, and that number is expected to grow 65% by 2030. The losses in productivity associated with those diseases like disability, unplanned absences and increased accidents are as much as 400% more than the cost of treatment.
Proven health benefits
Workplace health promotion has generally focused on promoting worker health through the reduction of individual risk-related behaviours such as tobacco use, physical inactivity and poor nutrition. These programmes have the potential to reach a significant proportion of employed adults, up to 54% of the world population.
In 2003, a comprehensive study focusing on the economic return of workplace health promotion concluded that workplace programmes can achieve a 25-30% reduction in medical and absenteeism costs in an average period of about 3.6 years. It also showed:
• An average 27% reduction in sick leave absenteeism
• An average 26% reduction in healthcare costs
• An average 32% reduction in workers' compensation and disability claim costs
• An average US$ 5.81-US$ 1.00 savings-to-cost ratio
Children & youth
A healthy heart is vital for living life to the full, regardless of age and gender. Unhealthy diets, physical inactivity and smoking are the leading causes of heart disease and stroke. The unhealthy lifestyles that lead to cardiovascular disease often begin in childhood and adolescence, so that prevention of heart disease must begin there. The World Heart Federation works to prevent tobacco use and promote healthy diets and physical activity among children and youth.
Eat for Goals! is about good food, cooking and football. It has been created to encourage young people to be more conscious of living active lifestyles and eating well. The book’s simple message, “A healthy lifestyle is also based on healthy food”, is conveyed by a multi-ethnic group of 13 internationally renowned male and female football players and their food choices.
Sesame Workshop
The World Heart Federation is very proud to partner with Sesame Workshop on its international ”Healthy Habits for Life” initiative, a comprehensive effort to use multimedia to help young children and their parents live healthier lives. Learn more about the project promoting healthy diets and physical activity among children in Colombia.
Youth for health
To help its member network become more involved in youth activism on health, the World Heart Federation supported the First Global Youth Meet (Gym 2006) and sponsored the attendance of teams from 8 of its member organizations. Youth leaders from around the world attended the meeting, which was organized in India by HRIDAY-SHAN. They formed the Youth for Health (Y4H) movement to Learn more about the Global Youth Meet and youth health advocacy.
Rheumatic heart disease
Rheumatic heart disease is the leading heart problem among children, adolescents and young adults in developing countries. It causes young people to develop heart failure, and many eventually die from the disease or require heart surgery, which is often not available or affordable in the countries where the disease is most common.
Rheumatic heart disease
Neglected disease of poverty
Rheumatic heart disease affects children and young people living in conditions of poverty, poor sanitation and overcrowding. Practically eliminated in wealthy countries, it is still common in Africa, Asia and the Pacific. Over 15 million people around the world suffer from the condition, which kills hundreds of thousands of people a year and is the most common acquired heart disease found among children and young people in developing countries.
Rheumatic heart disease is often missed in its early stages. It begins with a common throat infection caused by streptococcus bacteria (strep throat), which in some children sets off an abnormal immune reaction that damages heart valves. This reaction, called rheumatic fever, has symptoms that are vague and easily confused with other conditions.
People affected often look and feel healthy again once their outward symptoms are resolved, but with further streptococcal infections the rheumatic fever returns, worsening their heart damage. Often rheumatic heart disease is only detected when it is so advanced that only expensive and complicated heart surgery can save the person's life.
Preventable tragedy
The heart surgery needed at that stage is seldom available or affordable for those who suffer from rheumatic heart disease. If it is, it drains valuable resources from health systems that are still struggling to meet basic health needs. Some countries in the Pacific spend up to 15% of their total health budget sending rheumatic heart disease victims abroad for surgery. Preventing rheumatic heart disease, on the other hand, is safe and cheap: if caught in time, the progression of heart damage can be halted by monthly penicillin injections that prevent streptococcal infection.
The World Heart Federation works with ministries of health, health practitioners and the World Health Organization to enhance rheumatic heart disease control at the national, regional and global levels. It does this through:
* Scientific research and exchange on rheumatic heart disease
* Demonstration projects on rheumatic heart disease control in Africa and the South Pacific
* Online resources, tools and training materials for rheumatic heart disease control available free of charge for use by health care professionals worldwide
Online Rheumatic Heart Disease Network
(RHDnet) RHDnet is a public health resource developed by the World Heart Federation to support rheumatic heart disease control around the world. The site contains resources for health professionals including best practice tools (sample databases, management guidelines, and staff training resources) as well as links to other programme resources. RHDnet is the first dedicated, global network that attempts to connect and support clinicians and others interested in ARF and RHD control. A members' discussion forum has also been developed to link clinicians and specialists around the world and facilitate communication on various aspects of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease control including secondary prophylaxis, the use of echocardiography and issues around cardiac surgery. A section has also been developed for interested members of the community.
Workplace Wellness
Wellness can be defined as the condition of good physical and mental health, especially when maintained by proper diet, exercise and smoke-free living. When healthy habits are not maintained, cardiovascular and other chronic diseases can be the result. Chronic diseases are the leading cause of death and disability worldwide, increasingly affecting people in low- and middle-income countries as well as in high-income countries.
Chronic diseases impact people in their "working" years, reducing productivity and increasing costs. Multinational companies are called upon to use the workplace to promote long-term behavioural changes that will benefit employers, employees and communities.
Employment has a significant impact on our physical, mental and social health. It is furthermore a prime location for the development of unhealthy lifestyles characterized by stress, depression, chronic back problems, unhealthy eating habits due to lack of time and decreased opportunity for physical activity due to nature of work, among others. By contrast, a healthy work environment is one that is conducive to good lifestyle habits and in which respect, support, security, safety, opportunities for learning and developing skills are prominent.
Wellness programmes in workplace settings that integrate healthy environments, health promotion and education and health screenings have been shown to:
* improve employee health
* reduce employee stress
* reduce workforce turnover
*
improve employee decision-making ability
* reduce organizational conflict
* reduce absenteeism
* create a healthier organizational culture
* improve employee morale and loyalty
* reduce effects of presenteeism
Advocacy
The World Heart Federation ensures there is a real understanding of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease by informing the public, actively involving the medical community and lobbying government policy-makers. These activities form the advocacy side of the World Heart Federation. Through these actions and with its members, the World Heart Federation plays a major role in ensuring that governments adopt and implement broad policies for cardiovascular disease prevention.
The World Heart Federation is an active advocate for healthy diets and physical activity, calling for the implementation of the WHO Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health. The organization is also involved in the implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
The Millennium Development Goals itemize the specific poverty reduction goals of the United Nations. The World Heart Federation is an active proponent of inclusion of cardiovascular disease in the Millennium Development Goals, as 80% of deaths from cardiovascular disease occur in low- to middle-income countries.
The key lifestyle messages about healthy diets, physical activity and smoke-free living are embedded in the World Heart Federation's World Heart Day and Go Red for Women campaigns.
Cardiovascular diseases
In partnership with WHO, the World Heart Federation organizes World Heart Day every year. This year's theme is workplace wellness.
Cardiovascular diseases are the world’s largest killers, claiming 17.1 million lives a year. Tobacco use, an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and harmful use of alcohol increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Cardiovascular diseases World Heart Day 2009 In partnership with WHO, the World Heart Federation organizes World Heart Day every year. This year's theme is workplace wellness. Cardiovascular diseases are the world’s largest killers, claiming 17.1 million lives a year. Tobacco use, an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and harmful use of alcohol increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Read more about the theme for 2009 Read the fact sheet on cardiovascular diseases
Key messages to protect heart health
1.= Heart attacks and strokes are major–but preventable–killers worldwide.
2.= Over 80% of cardiovascular disease deaths take place in low-and middle-income countries and occur almost equally in men and women. Cardiovascular risk of women is particularly high after menopause.
3.= Tobacco use, an unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
4.= Cessation of tobacco use reduces the chance of a heart attack or stroke.
5.= Engaging in physical activity for at least 30 minutes every day of the week will help to prevent heart attacks and strokes.
6.= Eating at least five servings of fruit and vegetables a day, and limiting your salt intake to less than one teaspoon a day, also helps to prevent heart attacks and strokes.
7.= High blood pressure has no symptoms, but can cause a sudden stroke or heart attack.
Have your blood pressure checked regularly.
8.= Diabetes increases the risk of heart attacks and stroke. If you have diabetes control your blood pressure and blood sugar to minimize your risk.
9.= Being overweight increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. To maintain an ideal body weight, take regular physical activity and eat a healthy diet.
10.= Heart attacks and strokes can strike suddenly and can be fatal if assistance is not sought immediately.
What can I do to avoid a heart attack or a stroke?
Q: What can I do to avoid a heart attack or a stroke?
A: WHO estimates that more than 17.1 million people died of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack or stroke in 2004. Contrary to popular belief, four out of five of these deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries, and men and women were equally affected. The good news, however, is that 80% of premature heart attacks and strokes are preventable. Healthy diet, regular physical activity, and not using tobacco products are the keys to prevention.
Eat a healthy diet: A balanced diet is crucial to a healthy heart and circulation system. This should include plenty of fruit and vegetables, whole grains, lean meat, fish and pulses, and restricted salt, sugar and fat intake intake.
Take regular physical activity: At least 30 minutes of regular physical activity every day helps to maintain cardiovascular fitness; at least 60 minutes on most days helps to maintain healthy weight.
Avoid tobacco use: Tobacco in every form is very harmful to health - cigarettes, cigars, pipes, or chewable tobacco. Exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke is also dangerous. The risk of heart attack and stroke starts to drop immediately after a person stops using tobacco products, and can drop by as much as half after one year.
Check and control your cardiovascular risk:
* Know your blood pressure: High blood pressure usually has no symptoms, but can cause a sudden stroke or heart attack. Have your blood pressure checked.
* Know your blood sugar: Raised blood glucose (diabetes) increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. If you have diabetes it is very important to control your blood pressure and blood sugar to minimize the risk.
* Know your blood lipids: Raised blood cholesterol increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Blood cholesterol needs to be controlled through a healthy diet and, if necessary, by appropriate medications.
Fuentes:
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/events/annual/world_heart_day/en/index.html
http://www.world-heart-federation.org/what-we-do/world-heart-day/about-world-heart-day/
http://www.world-heart-federation.org/what-we-do/world-heart-day/world-heart-day-2009/
http://www.world-heart-federation.org/what-we-do/children-youth/
http://www.world-heart-federation.org/what-we-do/rheumatic-heart-disease/
http://www.world-heart-federation.org/what-we-do/workplace-wellness/
http://www.world-heart-federation.org/what-we-do/advocacy/
http://www.who.int/cardiovascular_diseases/en/index.html
http://www.who.int/features/qa/27/en/index.html