On
World Heart Day
(Sept. 29), the Pan American Health Organization/World
Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) is urging the adoption of healthy living habits
during childhood to prevent heart disease and other health problems in later
life.
Cardiovascular
diseases, including heart attacks and strokes, are the leading cause of death
worldwide and in most countries of the Americas, where they claim some 1.9
million lives each year. Following a healthy diet, engaging in physical
activity, and avoiding tobacco use can prevent these diseases.
“Take theroad to a healthy heart” is the theme of this year’s World Heart Day campaign,
which is led by the World Heart Federation and directed primarily at mothers,
who play a central role in teaching their children healthy habits, and at
children, who are becoming overweight and obese in increasing numbers, thanks
to what experts refer to as “obesogenic environments.”
Heart disease
prevention begins with breastfeeding and continues with healthy nutrition,
eating more vegetables, fruits and other unprocessed foods while limiting salt,
avoiding trans fats, sugars and tobacco and doing physical activity throughout
one’s life.
Obesity,
which is on the rise in children, is a leading risk factor for premature illness
and death in adults. “If the pattern continues, we will have more and more
people suffering from diabetes and hypertention at earlier ages,” said Pedro
Orduñez, PAHO advisor on prevention and control of chronic diseases. “Before,
we saw obesity-related diabetes at 60 or 70 years of age. Now we’re seeing it
in people who are 40 or 50 years old.”
Resources :
°
World Heart Day ( World Health Organization).
° Cardiac Science AED program management is an investment in making your
organization heart safe. Federal (and some state) regulations for AED
program management require heart safe training, record keeping, AED
maintenance, and a licensed physician to oversee your AED program. As
the AED program management partner for your heart safe program, we
provide AED training (along with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
training), record keeping, AED maintenance services, and medical
oversight of your heart safe program.
° Join the
Forum : World Heart Day, September 29
