As the world struggles to fight COVID-19, we’ve never been more aware of the importance of our health and that of our loved ones. The healthcare crisis we’ve all been living through has highlighted an urgent need to find different and innovative ways to connect people to heart health, particularly in lower resource areas and communities.
The heart is the only organ you can hear and feel. It is the first and last sign of life. It is one of the few things with the potential to unite all of us as people.
This year on World Heart Day, commemorated tomorrow, the World Heart Federation (WHF) is asking the world to: Use heart to connect—harnessing the power of digital health to improve awareness, prevention and management of CVD globally is the goal adopted for World Heart Day 2021.
Beating cardiovascular disease is the ultimate purpose of the WHF and all affiliated associations. It is a leading goal of thousands of doctors and healthcare professionals around the world and a key focus area of every national health service.
World Heart Day is the main communications tool and WHF is issuing a call to action: To use heart in all their actions.
To think differently.
To make the right decisions.
To act with courage.
To help others.
To engage with this important cause.
Popular people who have heart disease
BILL CLINTON
The 42nd President of the United States has had a public struggle with his heart health. In 2004 after learning that his arteries were 90 percent blocked, he had quadruple-bypass surgery. That led to some complications which required more surgery one year later.
And in 2011 when he felt chest pains once more, he had yet another surgery, this time on a coronary artery. This last procedure is what led Clinton, known for his love of burgers and barbeque, when he was in office, to seriously change his eating habits. Clinton became a vegan, eschewing all animal products in favour of a diet rich in beans, legumes, vegetables and fruits. He believed his changed nutritional habits have kept his heart disease under control and made him healthier overall along with a guided exercise regimen. His cardiologist shared, “The bottom line for Clinton and other bypass patients, once you have bypass surgery, don't assume you are out of the woods. You are not cured by bypass surgery. You still have to follow a heart-healthy lifestyle and utilise medications to control the risk factors."
TONI BRAXTON
When it comes to this chart-topper’s health, the Grammy winning “Un-Break My Heart” songstress is known for open battle with Lupus. But she shared she also struggles with Heart Disease. In 2003, during her starring performance at a musical, she fainted on set during the intermission from exhaustion and chest pains. Later at the hospital, she learned that she was diagnosed with high blood pressure, Hypertension. Before the diagnosis, she shared, “I missed the red flags” and only recognised after the event, exactly how her demanding lifestyle and daily habits played a role in this collapse. Now Braxton makes healthier habits – exercise, eating well and strict medical management – her health priority. She shared, she has cut out salty and fatty foods as that exacerbates her heart problems. Braxton has been open about her health journey and raised awareness by participating in the Heart Truth Global Initiatives.