WORLD HEART DAY 2006 ASKS: “HOW YOUNG IS YOUR HEART?”

World Heart Day fell on Sunday, 24 September, and was observed with more than the usual high interest and enthusiasm. There were more than 4.7 million hits to the World Heart Day web site (www.worldheartday.com). Although the final tally has not been compiled, media coverage was extensive.

The day’s theme – “How Young is Your Heart?” – emphasized the importance of taking active measures to keep one’s heart fit into old age.

Czechs, Estonians and Dutch enjoy World Heart Day events

In the Czech Republic, the day got off to a running start with the traditional “Bechovice Run” to encourage jogging as a way to keep one’s heart young and healthy. More than 1,000 Czechs participated. Five thousand red balloons were released into the air to symbolize the number of Czechs who die of cardiovascular diseases each month. The Czech Society of Cardiology’s mobile unit offered free cholesterol measurements and information about heart-healthy lifestyles. In the month before World Heart Day, the mobile unit visited 14 Czech towns and cities in every region of the Central European country.

In the Estonian capital of Tallinn, the Estonian Heart Association organized speeches, lectures, games, a presentation by the children’s book illustrator Asta Vender and live choir music. It also offered free cardiovascular risk assessments, T-shirts and World Heart Day diplomas. Researchers from the Estonian Institute of Cardiology and the University of Tartu lectured on such topics as the effects as lifestyle as a determinant of cardiovascular health. The activities were designed to inaugurate a year-long campaign of cardiovascular health awareness building in the Baltic country.

In the Netherlands’ Veluwe National Park, the Netherlands Heart Foundation organized a walking tour. The 2,000 participants received free apples and cardiovascular risk assessments and were treated to a percussion concert.

A few days before World Heart Day, the Swiss Heart Foundation posted volunteers at major railway stations to hand out flyers, fruit and tapes for measuring waist circumference. The goal was to stress the importance of maintaining a normal body weight to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Honduras, Barbados and Kenya emphasize heart health

In the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa, the Cardiology Society of Honduras posted volunteers in supermarkets to provide free cardiovascular risk assessments to 850 people.

The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Barbados celebrated World Heart Day as part of Barbados Heart and Stroke Week. The activities included a poster and essay competition for primary school students.

In Kenya, the Kenya Cardiac Society emphasized the importance of physical activity to heart health by organizing a 5-kilometer walk and two football matches. One match was between high school girls to stress the importance of women’s heart health.

Asia responds

The Japan Heart Foundation celebrated World Heart Day with various awareness building activities. Its volunteers distributed tapes for measuring waist circumference. In Tokyo, it organized a public symposium about walking and controlling blood pressure as means to ensure a healthy heart.

The Taiwan Society of Cardiology emphasized physical activity. Despite rain, 600 people participated in the various events, which included health check ups, educational games the sharing of athletes’ tips about exercise.

In Mangalore, India, Olympian Vandana Shanbhag led a four-kilometer race to encourage jogging as a way to keep one’s heart young and healthy. Volunteers distributed free water bottles. The race culminated with refreshments and speeches about the benefits of a heart-healthy lifestyle.

In the Seychelles, Health Minister Macsuzy Mondon presented 30 “Healthy Heart Award” certificates for sustainable projects to improve community heart health. Among the recognized projects were restaurants that serve heart-healthy food, schools that have taken steps to reduce student obesity and workplaces that have banned smoking and organized exercise classes for their workers.

The next World Heart Day will be on Sunday, 30 September 2007, and will focus on Healthy Families and Communities.

For more information on World Heart Day, visit www.worldheartday.com