World Heart Day 2024: Use your heart for action and a healthy life

Most importantly: 

• This year’s theme for World Heart Day
• Why should we pay attention to heart health? Why is it so important?  
• How and what can we do to take easy, active, healthy steps for our heart? 

Every year on the 29th of September, World Heart Day aims to raise awareness of the importance of heart health. The day unites people from all over the world with the mission to encourage preventive measures against cardiovascular diseases. It reminds us that taking care of the heart starts with every day, easy-to-do steps.  

Simple actions like regularly monitoring your blood pressure and heart rate at home with automatic blood pressure monitors (BPMS), like Sendo, are just one example of what you can do. World Heart Day not only raises awareness of the risks associated with cardiovascular disease, but also unites and inspires people to change their habits and take more active care of their health. 

‘Use Your Heart for Action’ 

Every year the World Heart Federation chooses a new and specific theme for their campaign that aims to give the support needed to tackle the problem of heart disease. From 2024 to 2026, the campaign theme will be “Use Heart for Action”. It urges people not only to think about their heart health, but to take concrete action to help protect it. This year's theme highlights the importance of action by reminding us that small lifestyle changes can lead to significant improvements in heart health. 

Why should we pay attention to our hearts?  

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. According to the WHO (World Health Organisation), they claim the lives of over 17 million people every year. This alarming number is a stern reminder that taking care of our hearts should not be put off and ignored.   
 
Unfortunately, there are certain risk factors that we cannot escape, such as genetic factors and family history. Thankfully, there are several risk factors we DO have control over:  

• Unhealthy eating: eating processed foods high in sugar and saturated fat significantly increases the risk of heart disease. Processed foods also contain large amounts of salt, which increases blood pressure and could lead to hypertension.  
• Lack of physical activity: A sedentary lifestyle can lead to obesity and lead to poor circulation.  
• Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption: These two habits directly damage the heart and blood vessels, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. 
• Stress and tension: Constant stress leads to high blood pressure and increases the likelihood of heart problems. Stress also affects us indirectly by making us more vulnerable to unhealthy food choices, alcohol and cigarettes. 
• High blood pressure (hypertension): This is a common but often overlooked risk factor. If not monitored regularly, hypertension can lead to serious complications. 

Time for action: Simple steps towards a healthy heart 

Taking care of your heart doesn’t require drastic changes – small steps in the right direction can make a significant difference, especially in the long run! With this year’s World Heart Theme of ‘Use Your Heart for Action’, it’s time for all of us to take the first step towards a healthier life. While the following steps may be simple, they are the key to a healthy heart:

• Physical activity: Even 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day, like walking, bike riding, or yoga can improve heart function and circulation.  
• Blood pressure control: High blood pressure often has no symptoms, but measuring it regularly is essential for maintaining heart health. With BPMs like Sendo, measurement is quick and easy from the comfort of your home, allowing for early recognition and diagnosis of any problems.  
• Reduce smoking and drinking alcohol: Limiting or quitting cigarettes and excessive alcohol can be challenging, but it is also one of the most important steps in improving heart health. 
• Eating right: A balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats is key to maintaining a healthy weight and a healthy heart. In addition to diet, taking Amiko Active supports balance in the cardiovascular system and improves heart function.
• Stress control: stress often gets out of control and can be hard to manage. Practices such as meditation, deep breathing and small breaks during the day can help you manage your stress. One way you can monitor stress is through your heart rate. Some of Sendo’s BPM’s have data-logging features which can monitor your heart's trends and detect arrhythmias. 

Time for Action 

World Heart Day is a call for all of us to take real steps towards a healthier lifestyle. The theme for 2024 - 'Use Your Heart to Act' - reminds us that the actions we take today can protect us from serious problems tomorrow.  
 
Taking care of your heart doesn't require radical changes. Whether you're starting a more active lifestyle, regulating your blood pressure, improving your diet or learning to manage stress, every step forward matters. Helpful allies in this journey are Sendo and Amiko Active. Taking Amiko Active supports your heart health, balances cholesterol levels and helps with high blood pressure. To securely and comfortably monitor your cardiovascular health, you can trust the easy-to-use Sendo devices. The heart is the core of our lives- it's time to give it the attention and care it deserves. 

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FAQ: 

Why is World Heart Day important? 

• World Heart Day is important because it draws attention to cardiovascular disease - the world's leading cause of death. This day reminds us of the importance of prevention and urges us to take action to improve our heart health. It also unites the efforts of health organisations around the world in the fight against cardiovascular disease.

What can help me in my journey towards better cardiovascular health? 

•  Healthy habits like partaking in physical activity and eating healthy foods can be further supported by other tools. To monitor your progress, for example, you can use Sendo automatic blood pressure monitors. Your cardiovascular health can be supported by taking Amiko Active, whose powerful ingredients have a proven clinical effect in controlling blood pressure, cholesterol and improving heart health. You can find Amiko Active in pharmacies, online on Sendo’s website, and wedo-care.com