World Heart Day 2021

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the world’s number one killer, resulting in 18.6 million deaths a year. It has many causes: from smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity, to air pollution, and less common conditions such as Chagas disease and cardiac amyloidosis.

For the 520 million people living with CVD, COVID-19 has been heartbreaking. They have been more at risk of developing severe forms of the virus. And many have been afraid to attend routine and emergency appointments, and have become isolated from friends and family.

This year on World Heart Day, the World Heart Federation (WHF) are asking the world to:  

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.

Harnessing the power of digital health to improve awareness, prevention and management of CVD globally is the WHF's goal for Word Heart Day 2021. Telehealth has a huge role to play as we continue to USE HEART TO BEAT CVD.

USE HEART TO CONNECT is about using your knowledge, compassion and influence to make sure you, your loved ones and the communities you’re part of have the best chance to live heart-healthy lives. It’s about connecting with our own hearts, making sure we’re fuelling and nurturing them as best we can, and using the power of digital to connect every heart, everywhere.

Digital networks have the power to connect patients with families, friends, other patients, doctors and carers. No one should have to feel alone, pandemic or not, so let’s use technology to overcome isolation and gaps in care.

Watch the World Heart Day 2021 official film here to get inspired:

Get involved this world heart day and remember to wear red on 29 September to show your support and help raise awareness about heart health!

This news piece was created using content from the World Heart Federation's website.