World Heart Day – One World, One Heart, One Home

Heart diseases are the number one killer in the world today with 29 percent of all global deaths attributed to it by World Health Organisation. Global leaders have also realised the urgency of prioritising the prevention of these diseases, also known as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), along with other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer and other respiratory diseases. The United Nations High-Level Meeting on NCDs was held in September.

The theme for prevention for heart diseases this year is focusing on the household. By focusing on the efforts to be taken at home, it is believed that people throughout the world can have better and longer lives. If the homes can be made heart friendly, your family can benefit from a better health throughout their lives.

Some tips you can implement for a heart friendly home -

No smoking at home

It is obvious that sticking to this rule would prevent heart diseases from affecting you and your children, although it is better still to quit.

How to implement

Make a rule of punishment such as every cigarette lighted in the house would mean an extra chore to be performed.

Healthy Food Options

Have a fruit for breakfast and cook your lunch at home. This would make sure that you eat only healthy stuff when at work. All your meals should contain two to three serving of vegetables.

Limit watching TV and other unhealthy habits

A family should implement a rule of not sitting before the TV for more than 2 hours. Organise outdoor family activities instead. It could be anything, even as simple as playing in the garden. Moreover, whenever possible walk or take your bicycle to your nearby destination.

Check-up

Visit your healthcare provider and get your blood pressure, cholesterol level, blood glucose level and BMI checked. You would get an idea about how your health measures up with regards to the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

17.1 million lives are lost every year due to cardiovascular diseases and most of these occur in low to middle income countries. The most unfortunate fact related to this figure is that most of them are due to preventable causes such as not having healthy diet, lack of regular physical exercise and having tobacco. Families all around the world need to wake up to these concerns and take corrective steps right away.

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