World Heart Federation
Return to index

WORLD HEART DAY, 28 September 2008: KNOW YOUR RISK

By the year 2025 it is estimated that more than 1.5 billion people1, or nearly one in three adults over the age of 25, will have high blood pressure (hypertension), one of the biggest single risk factors for heart disease and stroke, the world’s number one killer. There are no obvious symptoms of high blood pressure, and the only way to know is by getting checked by a health-care professional. That’s why this year’s World Heart Day will be urging people to “Know Your Risk!”

The Silent killer

High blood pressure has no visible symptoms, but can cause significant damage to the heart and arteries and lead to greater risk of heart disease and stroke. People with high blood pressure are three times more at risk than people with normal blood pressure and it can damage the body every day that it is too high.

The good news is that it is easy for health-care professionals to detect and usually controllable with lifestyle changes and/or medication. “By finding out your level of risk you are taking a simple but significant step towards preventing your life being affected by hypertension. If you know your blood pressure, in particular, your blood cholesterol and your blood sugar levels combined with your height, weight and waist measurement, your health-care professional will be able to advise you what specific actions should be taken to reduce your risk of suffering from heart disease or stroke. So you can have a heart for life,” said Professor Shahryar Sheikh, President of the World Heart Federation.

What can health-care professionals do?

Health-care professionals can help increase awareness and encourage people to take action to reduce cardiovascular disease, by supporting this year’s World Heart Day and playing a role in the global movement. Heart health checks can be given to patients to educate them on their level of risk and actions to combat it, especially lifestyle changes. Straightforward advice can exert a positive influence on patients’ motivation to make lifestyle changes. Opportunistic screening should be encouraged - people with a family history of disease may have the most to gain from screening and lifestyle changes. “Cardiovascular disease is one of the major world health issues of the 21st century but is one that we have the knowledge and ability to tackle,” said Professor Shahryar Sheikh,“Health-care professional’s support for World Heart Day and what it stands for would be a small but significant step in the right direction.”
There is a disproportional amount of attention paid to ‘non-sensational’ health issues such as cardiovascular disease. Media reporting of health-related news stories can be highly influential: according to the Kings Fund report, Health in the News, members of the public may alter their behaviour in ways that affect their health at least partly as a result of information and advice they get from the media. World Heart Day aims to address that, and health-care professionals can help by encouraging patients to “Know Your Risk!”

Building on the strength of previous World Heart Days

World Heart Day is in its ninth year and is run in over 100 countries, which includes both member and non-member organisations. Thanks to their dedication this campaign has gone from strength to strength and the vast range of activities organised have included: health checks, organised walks, runs and fitness sessions, public talks, stage shows, scientific forums, exhibitions, concerts, carnivals and sports tournaments.

All World Heart Federation members have been sent a CD-ROM containing this year’s Campaign Pack to aid them in their planning of World Heart Day. The pack includes the:

  • Key image
  • Marketing material (leaflet, poster and advertisement)
  • Media kit, including the launch press release, diary note and key messages
  • Evaluation forms

For further information on how you can get involved please visit: www.worldheartday.com

Gain visibility for your World Heart Day activities by promoting them through our website. Submit your plans online >

1 AHA, Journal Report 04/10/2007

top of the page