INZ: Today is World Heart Day

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - World Heart Day is celebrated every year on the last Sunday of September.

In 2012, declarations were adopted to reduce global mortality from non-communicable chronic diseases by 25% by 2025, according to a statement from the Institute for Health and Food Safety Zenica (INZ).

Cardiovascular diseases are responsible for almost half of deaths from chronic non-communicable diseases, making them the leading cause of death worldwide.

The observance of World Heart Day was initiated by the World Heart Federation, and the goal of the day is to inform people around the world that cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease and stroke, are the leading cause of death worldwide.

They are responsible for 17.5 million deaths annually, and, as stated by INZ experts, it is necessary to emphasize and highlight what each individual can do to prevent and control cardiovascular diseases, and reduce exposure to risk factors: tobacco use, unhealthy diet, and insufficient physical activity, etc.

Healthy lifestyles can prevent at least 80 percent of premature deaths from heart disease and stroke. Small changes in lifestyle habits, such as a healthy diet, physical activity, and quitting smoking, can lead to improved heart health.

Tobacco use and passive exposure to tobacco smoke kill six (6) million people annually and are estimated to cause almost 10 percent of cardiovascular diseases. Passive exposure to tobacco smoke kills 600,000 people annually, and 28 percent of them are children.

INZ also cites data from research by the World Heart Federation and the World Health Organization that within two years of quitting smoking, the risk of coronary heart disease is significantly reduced. Fifteen years after quitting, the risk level for cardiovascular diseases is the same as for non-smokers.

Together with other non-communicable chronic diseases, cardiovascular diseases contribute to poverty, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Consequently, cardiovascular diseases represent a significant burden on the economies of countries.

The burden of cardiovascular diseases CAN BE reduced. It is important for everyone to start acting immediately, recommends INZ.

It is especially important to take care of heart health and the prevention of cardiovascular diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic, as individuals with chronic cardiovascular diseases are among the risk groups for contracting COVID-19.