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.

World Heart Day Is A Global, Multi-Lingual Celebration

Spanning six continents, our hundreds of World Heart Federation (WHF) member organisations, 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, favour and colours 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.

What Is Cardiovascular Disease?

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the world’s number one killer. CVD is a class of diseases that affect the heart or blood vessels (veins and arteries). More people die from CVD worldwide than from any other cause: over 20.5 million every year. Of these deaths, 85% are due to coronary heart diseases (e.g heart attacks) and cerebrovascular diseases (e.g. strokes) and mostly affect low- and middle-income countries.

Did you know that your heart is the size of your fist and the strongest muscle in your body? It started beating about three weeks after you were conceived. If you live to be 70, it will have beaten two and a half billion times. However, although impressive and strong, your heart can also become vulnerable from habitual risk factors like smoking, diabetes, cholesterol, eating an unhealthy diet, or living with high blood pressure.

The system can also be weakened from a pre-existing heart condition and other physiological factors, including hypertension or high blood cholesterol. When your heart’s functions become compromised, this is known as cardiovascular disease, a broad term that covers any disorder to the system that has the heart at its centre.

Want to know more about World Heart Day? Click here.