That heart diseases can severely affect one's life is no hidden secret. As per a 2019 report by the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 17.9 people around the globe lost their lives to heart diseases. Therefore, people should know how to prevent and control heart ailments. The World Heart Federation (WHF) celebrates World Heart Day every year to promote awareness about heart diseases. Read on to know more about the event and how you can prevent and control cardiovascular diseases CDV).

Importance of World Heart Day

Launched in 1977 by the World Heart Federation, World Heart Day is a global event celebrated on September 29 every year. The objective of World Heart Day 2022 is to instil awareness about the life-threatening effects of cardiovascular ailments. The WHF also aims to educate people on ways to prevent cardiovascular diseases.

Common Cardiovascular Diseases

Life-threatening heart diseases include:

• Coronary heart disease: The coronary arteries get blocked due to deposits of fatty substances along the walls of the arteries.

• Congenital heart disease: These are heart diseases that develop before birth. Holes in the heart, closed valves, etc., are common congenital heart diseases.

• Arrhythmia: Arrhythmia is when your heart beats too fast or too slow than the regular heartbeat.

• Rheumatic heart disease: This condition affects the heart muscles and valves during rheumatic fever.

• Heart valve disease: The four valves in the heart cannot supply blood adequately due to high blood pressure or other CVDs.

Factors causing heart diseases

Here are the leading causes of cardiovascular diseases:

• Obesity: Obesity or excess weight leads to the build-up of fatty substances in the blood vessels.

• Diabetes: High blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels.

• High blood pressure: High blood pressure means the heart has to pump blood harder, often leading to fatal heart attacks.

• Genetics: Abnormalities of the heart can transfer from one generation to another.

• Unhealthy diet: Diets high in saturated fats and processed foods comprise high salt content that can raise blood pressure and compromise heart health.

• Smoking: The chemicals from the smoke form plaque or atherosclerosis in the blood vessels.

How to Prevent Heart Diseases

You can make some lifestyle changes to prevent cardiovascular diseases, such as

• Eat a balanced diet

• Exercise regularly

• Maintain a healthy weight

• Reduce alcohol and tobacco consumption

• Keep tabs on your blood pressure and sugar levels

Importance of Health Insurance

While you can be cautious and take the necessary steps to prevent potential threats to the heart, you must also be financially prepared to tackle treatment costs. One way to achieve this is through health insurance. You can buy critical illness health insurance plans and pay for numerous cardiovascular diseases and associated treatment costs. The policies usually come with a 24 to 48 months waiting period, after which your insurer covers various treatment costs like hospitalization, medical practitioners’ fees, pre and post-surgery care, etc.

Buy Health Insurance

The only way to deal with the rising medical costs is to invest in health insurance. With insurance, you can pay for expensive surgeries and health care. Click here to find a suitable health insurance policy for you and your loved ones.