World Heart Day was created in 2000 in order to inform citizens around the globe that heart disease and strokes are the world’s leading cause of death, taking over 14 million lives in 2012 alone.

Now in its 13th year, World Heart Day will unite people globally on the 29th September to take part in a vast array of activities to increase awareness. Organised by the World Heart Federation, the main goals for the day are: to raise the priority of cardiovascular health on the global agenda; improve care for heart disease and stroke victims; promote healthy diets and exercise; and create a tobacco free world and eliminate rheumatic fever.

In 2011 160,000 UK citizens died from cardiovascular disease (CVD). The federation aims to get people all over the world to achieve longer and healthier lives through the prevention and control of heart disease and stroke. CVD can affect people of all ages and population groups including women and children.

World Heart Day is calling on everybody to get involved, including children. Healthy children lead to healthy adults, which leads to healthy families and communities. On the occasion of World Heart Day, simply increase your exercise and eat healthily in order to enhance a healthy lifestyle. Reducing tobacco and trans-fat intakes also dramatically reduces the damage to our bodies and our chances of acquiring CVD. In children one of the most common factors contributing to CVD is obesity. Readjusting your child’s diet and increasing the amount of exercise through walking, cycling or joining sports clubs will noticeably reduce the chance of CVD in later life.

Heart health and holidays

Most people with heart conditions are safe to travel abroad on holiday. If you are unsure about whether you should be travelling or have any questions regarding your health you should consult your doctor before planning your holiday. The British Heart Foundation also publishes some useful information about travelling with heart conditions on their website.

Travel insurance is a must whenever you travel abroad as it protects you from the risk of incurring large medical bills if you fall ill or have an accident whilst you are away. If you have a heart condition or any other type of medical condition you will need to declare to your travel insurance provider to ensure that you are properly covered.

Find out more about travel insurance for heart conditions.