World Heart Day press room
"Know Your Risk!" World Heart Day, Sunday 28 September 2008
World Heart Day is arguably the most successful international campaign against heart disease and stroke. The World Heart Federation, a nongovernmental organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, created the annual campaign in the year 2000 to increase public awareness of the growing threat of heart disease and stroke.
The Challenge
Heart disease and stroke is the world’s largest killer, claiming 17.5 million lives a year. Eighty per cent of the victims are from low- and middle-income countries. The good news is that heart disease is largely preventable and that simple, affordable steps that can be taken to reduce the major risk factors. Controlling these risk factors helps the heart to age more slowly and dramatically reduces the risk of heart disease.
The message of World Heart Day is a positive one and emphasizes the importance of a heart-healthy lifestyle to leading a better, longer life. Each year World Heart Day focuses on a specific theme. This year’s campaign encourages people to “Know Your Risk!" and to find out what they can do to reduce it.
