World Heart Day: Raising Awareness for a Healthier Heart

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On September 29th, the world celebrates World Heart Day, an annual campaign dedicated to the body’s most vital organ, the heart.

This small ball of muscle beats 60–100 times every minute, adding up to nearly 100,000 beats a day and about 35 million beats in a year. That’s a lot of work for something we often take for granted.

But why does it work so tirelessly? Why should you take care of it? And why is Heart Day so important?

In 2025, amidst the noise of hectic schedules and endless doomscrolling, the message of World Heart Day feels more relevant than ever: “Don’t Miss a Beat.” This year’s theme from the World Heart Federation is a reminder to tune in to your body, notice the subtle signals, and take proactive steps toward a longer, healthier life.

Here’s why this matters: Cardiovascular disease (CVD), which includes conditions of the heart and blood vessels, is still the world’s number one killer. Every year, it claims over 20.5 million lives, more than all cancers and chronic respiratory diseases combined. About 85% of these deaths are caused by heart attacks and strokes, hitting low- and middle-income countries the hardest.

But here’s the hopeful part: up to 80% of premature deaths from CVD are preventable. Prevention doesn’t always mean complicated medical treatments. Often, it’s about access to affordable care, regular screenings, and simple everyday choices, like eating well, staying active, managing stress, and avoiding harmful habits.

This World Heart Day, let’s go beyond the headlines. This blog isn’t just about awareness; it’s about giving you practical, value-driven knowledge to protect your heart. Because when it comes to your health, you are your own best advocate.

But First, What is World Heart Day?

The global platform we now know as World Heart Day was born from a pressing need and a powerful vision. The concept was the brainchild of Dr. Antoni Bayés de Luna, who served as the President of the World Heart Federation (WHF) from 1997 to 1999. Faced with the escalating global burden of CVD, he proposed a dedicated day for awareness and action.

Launched in 1999 in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNESCO, the first official World Heart Day was celebrated on September 24, 2000. This inaugural event was strategically aligned with the Sydney Olympic Games, amplifying its message on a global stage. The first slogan, “Let it Beat,” emphasised the importance of physical activity in preventing heart disease and stroke.

Initially observed on the last Sunday of September, the date was moved to a fixed day, September 29th, in 2011 to establish a more consistent and recognized global presence. For a quarter of a century, this initiative has been instrumental in educating the public, mobilizing communities in over 90 countries, and advocating for policies that make heart health a priority for governments worldwide.

The Heart’s Condition Around The World

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the world’s leading cause of death, responsible for millions of deaths annually, a burden that has only grown over recent decades despite modest reductions in age-standardised death rates globally. Alarmingly, heart disease is no longer an issue only for the elderly: in 2019, young adults aged 25-49 accounted for about 9 % of all global cases of ischemic heart disease (IHD) and approximately 6.5 % of deaths from IHD.

Women too are increasingly affected, though their mortality rates are somewhat lower than men, many studies find that risk factor control (for blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes etc.) lags behind, and heart disease accounts for a sizeable share of deaths among women globally.

Regionally, India stands out for its particularly high burden. The age-adjusted CVD death rate in India is higher than the global average, with data showing India contributes about 23 % of the world’s disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost due to ischemic heart disease, and over a third of the global DALYs due to stroke. Studies in India also show an increasing prevalence of CVD even among urban young people, and a rapid rise in risk factors in rural areas too.

Much of this rise is driven by lifestyle and environmental factors that are modifiable. Key contributors include: hypertension, obesity, poor diet (high in saturated fat, trans fat, salt, processed foods; low in fruits/vegetables), sedentary lifestyle, tobacco use, air pollution, stress, and rising prevalence of diabetes and dyslipidaemia. These risk factors are increasingly present in younger demographics, making early prevention, awareness, and policy action more urgent than ever.

Facts you can quote this World Heart Day

We often take for granted the relentless beating machine in our chests. Your heart is an incredible engine. You might know it’s roughly the size of your fist and the strongest muscle in your body, but its wonders go much deeper.

Your heart’s journey began just three weeks after you were conceived. By the time you reach the age of 70, it will have beaten more than two and a half billion times (2,500,000,000).
When asked to place a hand over our heart, we instinctively move it to the left. While the heart does tilt in that direction, it is primarily located in the center of your chest, safely nestled behind the breastbone. You feel the beat more strongly on the left because that’s where its powerful pumping chamber, the left ventricle, is located.
The term “broken heart” isn’t just a poetic metaphor. “Broken heart syndrome,” medically known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, is a real and temporary condition. Triggered by sudden emotional or physical stress, like the loss of a loved one. It causes a rapid weakening of the heart muscle, mimicking the symptoms of a heart attack but without the blocked arteries. The heart muscle is essentially “stunned” by a surge of stress hormones, but thankfully, in most cases, it recovers fully within days or weeks.
You would never think to connect your annual flu shot with heart health, but the link is profound. The flu virus triggers a widespread inflammatory response throughout the body, which can destabilize plaque in your arteries. Studies have shown that the risk of having a heart attack is six times higher in the week after a flu diagnosis. Getting vaccinated is a simple step that significantly reduces this risk.

Ways to “not skip a beat” this World Heart Day

One of the most dangerous aspects of many cardiovascular conditions is their silent nature. You can feel perfectly fine while underlying risk factors are developing. This is why regular screenings are not just a good idea; they are a critical component of preventative health. Don’t wait for symptoms to appear. Be proactive and work with your doctor to monitor these key indicators.

Routine Screenings Everyone Should Get:

Blood Pressure: High blood pressure, or hypertension, is often called the “silent killer” because it typically has no symptoms. A reading below 120/80 mm Hg is considered normal. Regular checks are vital, as managing high blood pressure is one of the most significant things you can do to reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke.
Cholesterol (Fasting Lipid Profile): This blood test measures your total cholesterol, breaking it down into LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, HDL (“good”) cholesterol, and triglycerides. High levels of LDL cholesterol can lead to plaque buildup in your arteries. Your doctor will use these results, especially after age 40, to calculate your 10-year risk of a cardiovascular event.
Blood Glucose: This test screens for high blood sugar, which is a hallmark of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. Uncontrolled diabetes can damage blood vessels and nerves that control your heart, dramatically increasing your CVD risk.
Body Weight and Waist Circumference: Your healthcare professional will track your Body Mass Index (BMI) and may measure your waist circumference. Excess weight, especially around the abdomen, puts extra strain on your heart and is a risk factor for other conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes.

Screenings that you might find at Discounted Prices This World Heart Day:

Regardless of whether you have symptoms, a family history of heart disease, or multiple risk factors, it’s always a good idea to get a clearer picture of your heart’s health.

Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): This non-invasive test records your heart’s electrical activity through small patches placed on your skin. It’s a quick and simple way to detect arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) and other electrical issues.
Echocardiogram (“Echo”): Using sound waves, an echocardiogram creates detailed, moving images of your heart. This allows doctors to assess the size and shape of your heart’s chambers, see how well it’s pumping, and check for any problems with the heart valves.
Exercise Stress Test: This involves monitoring your heart’s electrical activity with an EKG while you walk on a treadmill or ride a stationary bike. It shows how your heart performs under physical stress and can reveal issues that aren’t apparent when you’re at rest.
Coronary CT Angiography (CCTA): This is a non-invasive scan that utilises CT imaging and a contrast dye to create highly detailed 3D images of your coronary arteries, enabling doctors to identify blockages or narrowing without the need for more invasive procedures.

Exercises for a Healthy Heart

Physical activity is a cornerstone of cardiovascular health. A well-rounded exercise routine strengthens your heart muscle, improves blood flow, and helps manage weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol. The goal is to aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week.

Aerobic Exercise (Cardio): This refers to any activity that increases your heart rate and causes you to breathe more deeply. It is phenomenal for improving circulation and overall cardiovascular fitness.
- Examples: Brisk walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, dancing, or even vigorous gardening and housework. Aim for at least 30 minutes, five days a week.

Strength Training (Resistance): Building muscle helps your body burn fat more efficiently and has been shown to help raise good HDL cholesterol while lowering bad LDL cholesterol.
- Examples: Using free weights, resistance bands, or your own body weight for exercises like squats, push-ups, and lunges. Schedule strength training for at least two non-consecutive days per week.

Flexibility and Balance: Although not directly contributing to heart health, practices such as yoga and tai chi are essential. They enhance your musculoskeletal foundation, which helps prevent injuries and cramping, allowing you to perform your aerobic and strength exercises effectively and safely.

What are the everyday Habits that affect your heart?

Many of the biggest threats to your heart are unknowingly attached to your daily life. Recognizing and addressing these habits is the first and most crucial step towards prevention.

Stuck to the chair? (Lack of Exercise & Prolonged Sitting): We all know a sedentary lifestyle is harmful. However, emerging research on “sitting disease” reveals a startling fact: prolonged sitting is an independent risk factor for heart disease, even among individuals who exercise regularly. Studies show that when daily sitting time exceeds a threshold of about 10 hours, the risk for heart failure and cardiovascular death rises significantly. Lack of movement slows circulation, weakens the heart, and disrupts the body’s metabolism of fats and sugars.
Smoking’s direct attack on your arteries: Smoking damages the inner lining of your blood vessels, making them stiff and narrow. It promotes plaque buildup and increases the likelihood of blood clots forming, which can block blood flow and trigger a heart attack. Quitting has immediate benefits, with oxygen flow improving almost instantly.
Your Diet’s Direct Line to Your Heart: Diets high in processed foods, unhealthy fats, and sodium are devastating for your heart. Excess salt contributes to high blood pressure, while unhealthy fats can lead to high cholesterol. Processed and sugary foods weaken the heart muscle and increase inflammation. Prioritizing fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains provides the fuel your heart needs to stay strong.
The Toll of Stress and Sleepless Nights: Chronic stress and poor sleep keep your body in a constant state of high alert, flooding it with stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. This can trigger high blood pressure, inflammation, and irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias). Practices like meditation, deep breathing, and yoga can help manage stress and regulate your heart’s function.

Technology to help make healthy habits this World Heart Day

The role of technology in heart health is rapidly evolving from simple tracking to sophisticated prediction. We are entering an era where our devices can act as ever-vigilant partners, helping us and our doctors to potentially see around the corner and pre-empt cardiac events.

Wearables and monitors are at the forefront of this shift, generating a continuous stream of data that can be used to create a personalized health baseline, or a “digital twin.” Advanced devices now monitor not just heart rate, but also metrics like Heart Rate Variability (HRV), a key indicator of the body’s stress and recovery state. By leveraging AI, these platforms can detect subtle deviations from an individual’s baseline that may precede a health issue. This is the paradigm shift: from reactively checking your heart rate during exercise to having a system that proactively alerts you to concerning trends in your autonomic nervous system, potentially flagging issues long before symptoms appear.

The explosion of health and diet apps is leading to the creation of an integrated health ecosystem. The true power is unlocked when these apps no longer operate in silos. Imagine a system where your nutrition app communicates with your fitness tracker, which in turn shares relevant, summarized data with your electronic health record.

During a virtual consultation, your cardiologist can then view a holistic picture of your lifestyle choices, medication adherence, and biometric trends in one place. This seamless flow of information enables more productive consultations and allows for the fine-tuning of treatment plans based on real-world data, not just on anecdotal reports from the patient.

This integration of data culminates in the rise of AI-powered telecardiology. The future of telemedicine isn’t just a video call; it’s a diagnostic tool. During a virtual visit, AI algorithms can analyze an ECG from a patient’s smartwatch in real-time, flag abnormalities for the doctor’s immediate attention, or sift through months of blood pressure readings to identify concerning patterns. This synergy between human expertise and machine intelligence enhances a clinician’s ability to diagnose and manage conditions remotely, making expert cardiac care more accessible and efficient than ever before.

Conclusion

This World Heart Day, let the theme “Don’t Miss a Beat” be your personal mantra. Don’t miss the beat of an opportunity to go for a walk. Don’t miss the beat of a healthier meal choice. Don’t miss the annual checkup that could provide life-saving information. And most importantly, don’t miss a single, precious beat you have with the loved ones you’re protecting.

Every heartbeat is a reminder of life, of love, of second chances. While you care for your own, you can also help someone else’s heartbeat continue strong through Ketto. After all, healthier hearts aren’t just built by choices we make for ourselves, but by kindness we extend to others.