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World Heart Day 2008
NEWS RELEASE
World Heart Day 2008, Sunday 28th September
KNOW YOUR RISK!
(10 June 2008, Geneva) By the year 2025 it is estimated that more than 1.5 billion people1,
or nearly one in three adults over the age of 25, will have high blood pressure, one of the
biggest single risk factors for heart disease and stroke, the world’s number one killer. There
are no obvious symptoms of high blood pressure, and the only way to know is to visit your
health-care professional for a check-up. That’s why this year’s World Heart Day on Sunday
28th September will be urging people to “Know Your Risk!”
Heart disease and stroke causes 17.5 million deaths each year, as many deaths as
HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and diabetes plus all forms of cancer and chronic
respiratory disease combined2. “Not enough of us are aware of this and whether our own
lifestyle and heritage could be contributing to our risk of developing heart disease and
stroke. It is never too early and never too late to start taking care of your heart,” said
Professor Shahryar Sheikh, President of the World Heart Federation.
World Heart Day is run by the World Heart Federation’s member organizations in over 100
countries. World Heart Day activities include health checks, organised walks, runs and
fitness sessions, public talks, stage shows, scientific forums, exhibitions, concerts, carnivals
and sports tournaments.
“The number of those affected by high blood pressure is predicted to increase by 50 per
cent over the coming years, but this doesn’t have to be inevitable,” said Professor Sheikh.
“By adopting suitable lifestyle changes and reducing the risk, the picture really can change
for the better.”
…/
1 AHA, Journal Report 04/10/2007
2 WHO 2005 – Preventing Chronic Diseases: A Vital Investment
KNOW YOUR RISK! – WORLD HEART DAY 2008 /2
The level of risk for heart disease and stroke is a combination of modifiable and nonmodifiable
factors, of which high blood pressure is one of the most important. High blood
pressure, or hypertension, currently affects more than a billion people worldwide3 and can
damage the body every day that it is too high. There are usually no obvious signs of high
blood pressure but the good news is that it is easy for health-care professionals to detect
and usually controllable with lifestyle changes and/or medication.
“By finding out your level of risk you are taking a simple but significant step towards
preventing your life being affected by hypertension. If you know your blood pressure, in
particular, your blood cholesterol and your blood sugar levels combined with your height,
weight and waist measurement, your health-care professional will be able to advise you what
specific actions should be taken to reduce your risk of suffering from heart disease or stroke.
So you can have a heart for life,” said Professor Shahryar Sheikh.
Heart disease and stroke can be better prevented by regular exercise, no smoking and a
healthier diet, low in salt and fat and rich in fibres, fresh vegetables and fruit. Studies have
shown that increased consumption of fruit and vegetables from less than three to more than
five servings a day is related to a 17% reduction in coronary heart disease4. High blood
pressure in particular is closely related to excessive consumption of salty foods.
There is a vast public misperception and disproportional lack of attention paid to people’s
risk of heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure in relation to more sensational health
issues. As a result people tend to overestimate the number of deaths from rarer and
infrequent risks while underestimating those from more common causes such as heart
disease and stroke. World Heart Day 2008 aims to redress the balance. “Know Your Risk!”
For more information on risk factors for heart disease and stroke, you can also consult
www.worldheartday.com and www.who.int/cardiovascular_diseases/en/
– Ends –
3 AHA, Journal Report 04/10/2007
4 He I FJ, Nowson CA, et al. Increased Consumption of Fruit and Vegetables is related to a Reduced Risk
of Coronary Heart Disease: Meta-analysis of Cohort Studies. Journal of Human Hypertension 2007; 21:
717-28.
KNOW YOUR RISK! – WORLD HEART DAY 2008 /3
About the World Heart Federation
The World Heart Federation is a nongovernmental organization based in Geneva
Switzerland dedicated to the prevention and control of heart disease and stroke, with a
focus on low- and middle-income countries. It comprises 196 member societies of
cardiology and heart foundations from over 100 countries covering the regions of Asia-
Pacific, Europe, East Mediterranean, the Americas and Africa. For further information,
visit: www.worldheart.org
Press contact:
Cristina Broch, Cohn & Wolfe public relations
Tel: +41 22 908 4075
cristina.broch@cohnwolfe.com
www.cwnewsroom.ch
World Heart Day 2008, Sunday 28th September
KNOW YOUR RISK!
(10 June 2008, Geneva) By the year 2025 it is estimated that more than 1.5 billion people1,
or nearly one in three adults over the age of 25, will have high blood pressure, one of the
biggest single risk factors for heart disease and stroke, the world’s number one killer. There
are no obvious symptoms of high blood pressure, and the only way to know is to visit your
health-care professional for a check-up. That’s why this year’s World Heart Day on Sunday
28th September will be urging people to “Know Your Risk!”
Heart disease and stroke causes 17.5 million deaths each year, as many deaths as
HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and diabetes plus all forms of cancer and chronic
respiratory disease combined2. “Not enough of us are aware of this and whether our own
lifestyle and heritage could be contributing to our risk of developing heart disease and
stroke. It is never too early and never too late to start taking care of your heart,” said
Professor Shahryar Sheikh, President of the World Heart Federation.
World Heart Day is run by the World Heart Federation’s member organizations in over 100
countries. World Heart Day activities include health checks, organised walks, runs and
fitness sessions, public talks, stage shows, scientific forums, exhibitions, concerts, carnivals
and sports tournaments.
“The number of those affected by high blood pressure is predicted to increase by 50 per
cent over the coming years, but this doesn’t have to be inevitable,” said Professor Sheikh.
“By adopting suitable lifestyle changes and reducing the risk, the picture really can change
for the better.”
…/
1 AHA, Journal Report 04/10/2007
2 WHO 2005 – Preventing Chronic Diseases: A Vital Investment
KNOW YOUR RISK! – WORLD HEART DAY 2008 /2
The level of risk for heart disease and stroke is a combination of modifiable and nonmodifiable
factors, of which high blood pressure is one of the most important. High blood
pressure, or hypertension, currently affects more than a billion people worldwide3 and can
damage the body every day that it is too high. There are usually no obvious signs of high
blood pressure but the good news is that it is easy for health-care professionals to detect
and usually controllable with lifestyle changes and/or medication.
“By finding out your level of risk you are taking a simple but significant step towards
preventing your life being affected by hypertension. If you know your blood pressure, in
particular, your blood cholesterol and your blood sugar levels combined with your height,
weight and waist measurement, your health-care professional will be able to advise you what
specific actions should be taken to reduce your risk of suffering from heart disease or stroke.
So you can have a heart for life,” said Professor Shahryar Sheikh.
Heart disease and stroke can be better prevented by regular exercise, no smoking and a
healthier diet, low in salt and fat and rich in fibres, fresh vegetables and fruit. Studies have
shown that increased consumption of fruit and vegetables from less than three to more than
five servings a day is related to a 17% reduction in coronary heart disease4. High blood
pressure in particular is closely related to excessive consumption of salty foods.
There is a vast public misperception and disproportional lack of attention paid to people’s
risk of heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure in relation to more sensational health
issues. As a result people tend to overestimate the number of deaths from rarer and
infrequent risks while underestimating those from more common causes such as heart
disease and stroke. World Heart Day 2008 aims to redress the balance. “Know Your Risk!”
For more information on risk factors for heart disease and stroke, you can also consult
www.worldheartday.com and www.who.int/cardiovascular_diseases/en/
– Ends –
3 AHA, Journal Report 04/10/2007
4 He I FJ, Nowson CA, et al. Increased Consumption of Fruit and Vegetables is related to a Reduced Risk
of Coronary Heart Disease: Meta-analysis of Cohort Studies. Journal of Human Hypertension 2007; 21:
717-28.
KNOW YOUR RISK! – WORLD HEART DAY 2008 /3
About the World Heart Federation
The World Heart Federation is a nongovernmental organization based in Geneva
Switzerland dedicated to the prevention and control of heart disease and stroke, with a
focus on low- and middle-income countries. It comprises 196 member societies of
cardiology and heart foundations from over 100 countries covering the regions of Asia-
Pacific, Europe, East Mediterranean, the Americas and Africa. For further information,
visit: www.worldheart.org
Press contact:
Cristina Broch, Cohn & Wolfe public relations
Tel: +41 22 908 4075
cristina.broch@cohnwolfe.com
www.cwnewsroom.ch
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