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World Heart Day 2018: 5 promises to make for a healthy, happy heart
| This World Heart Day, celebrated every year on September 29, make promise for your heart and for all our hearts to live longer, better and more heart-healthy lives. |
| By making just a few small changes to our lives, we can all live longer, better, more heart-healthy lives. Here are five simple things you can do to keep your heart healthy and happy. |
| Eat a healthy diet: |
| Eat well by including plenty of fruit and vegetables, whole grains, lean meat, fish and pulses, while restricting salt, sugar and fat intake. Use alcohol in moderation. |
| Get more active: |
| Include regular exercise in your daily routine. WHO recommends that adults should get at least 30 minutes of regular physical activity every day to maintain cardiovascular fitness - at least 60 minutes on most days of the week can help maintain a healthy weight. |
| Say no to smoking: |
| Quitting smoking is the single best thing you can do for your heart health. The risk of coronary heart disease is substantially reduced within two years of quitting, and within five years, the risk of CVD returns to that of a non-smoker. |
| Know your risk: |
| Visit your doctor or a healthcare professional and ask them to measure your numbers - blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and body mass index (BMI), all of which are a major risk factor for CVD. Your doctor can advise you on your overall CVD risk so you can plan to improve your heart health. |
| Know your symptoms: |
| Recognise the signs and symptoms of a heart attack. It is said that over 70% of all cardiac and breathing emergencies occur in the home when a family member is present and could help a victim. |
| Cardiovascular disease is the world’s leading cause of death today, however, by making a few changes to our lives, we can prevent or reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, as well as improve our quality of life. |