World Heart Day today

World Heart Day 2024 is being observed in Bangladesh as elsewhere across the globe on Sunday to raise awareness about cardiovascular diseases.

The World Heart Federation (WHF) will campaign under the theme of “Use Heart for Action Supporting Individuals” for the next two years (2024-2026) to care for their hearts and empower them to urge leaders to take cardiovascular health seriously by providing a global platform for action.

This year’s theme was chosen to champion the right of everyone, everywhere to have access to quality health services, education, and information, as well as safe drinking water, clean air, good nutrition, quality housing, decent working and environmental conditions, and freedom from discrimination.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the world’s number one killer disease.

Conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels – such as heart attack, stroke and heart failure – kill more than 67 per cent in Bangladesh every year.

Out of the global deaths caused by heart disease, 85 per cent of deaths happened in low- and middle-income countries and Bangladesh is one of the major, it said.

Experts said that at least 17 per cent of the total deaths caused by different diseases in the country are related to heart-related complications.

In Bangladesh, one youth out of every five is at risk of heart disease. Experts said age, high blood pressure and cholesterol, excessive fat, unhygienic food intake, alcohol and mental pressure are mainly responsible for heart disease.

World Heart Day is observed on this day (Sept 29) every year to draw attention to the causes of cardiovascular illnesses and their management.