World Heart Day and Car-Free Day under the motto 'Protect Your Heart – Love Your Heart'

The Institute for Health and Food Safety Zenica this year combined the observance of World Heart Day and Car-Free Day under the motto „Protect Your Heart – Love Your Heart“.

- Cardiovascular diseases are the number one killer in the world. Every year they cause 17.5 million premature deaths, and it is expected that this number will rise to 23 million by 2030. The good news is that many cardiovascular diseases can be prevented by introducing a few simple changes into your daily life, such as a healthy diet, physical activity and quitting smoking. At Alija Izetbegović Square, an info stand was organized with distribution of promotional materials and blood pressure measurement. It is very important to monitor your health condition, especially considering the fact that high blood pressure is the number one risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, and it is also called the „silent killer“ because it usually has no warning signs or symptoms, pointed out Dr. Elma Kuduzović, coordinator of the Functional Center for Health Promotion of the Institute for Health and Food Safety Zenica.

In order to raise public awareness about the importance of physical activity, the Institute for Health and Food Safety joined "Critical Mass Zenica", a program organized by the Association for the Promotion of Eco and Alternative Culture "Nature and Society", which symbolically marked this day with a promotional city bike ride and outdoor zumba.

Before, during and after the physical activities-ride, at the INZ stand, participants could help themselves to refreshing drinks, fruit and healthy snacks, with the aim of promoting a healthy diet.

At the same time, while the girls decorated their bicycles, the boys participated in a competition of riding a bicycle on the rear wheel, and then they took a joint ride through the streets of the City of Zenica.

- Zenica has ideal conditions to be a completely bicycle-friendly city, and while Bosnia and Herzegovina has a million registered cars, in Amsterdam alone there are that many registered bicycles. It is not impossible, we have an ideal city configuration, and I would recommend everyone to strengthen their legs, their heart, all of which can be achieved through physical activity, pointed out Majda Ibraković, representative of the Youth Association for the Promotion of Eco and Alternative Culture “Nature and Society” Zenica.

As part of the multi-hour program, “Zumba with Dila” was also organized, enjoyed by the ride participants, volunteers and activists, as well as citizens, who danced along to an excellent combination of dance and fitness.

- We decided to treat our fellow citizens to a free training session aimed at promoting sports, which supports the development of the body, affects the psychophysical ability of a person, and I am glad that our fellow citizens are aware of this issue. Zumba is a combination of dance and fitness and therefore falls into that part of the program that affects psychophysical development, so we decided to join this action, which is greatly needed in our city so that citizens can dedicate themselves more to health and a healthy life, said Dila Seferović, a licensed Zumba instructor.

As part of these activities, employees of the Institute for Health and Food Safety responded to the voluntary blood donation campaign organized in cooperation with the Red Cross of the City of Zenica and the Transfusion Center of the Cantonal Hospital Zenica, with the aim of raising awareness about the needs and importance of safe blood and blood products. Blood can help extend life expectancy and improve the quality of life of patients suffering from life-threatening conditions, and it is necessary for complex medical and surgical procedures.