World Heart Day in the United States

World Heart Day is observed annually on September 29th. It was established in 2000 by the World Heart Federation in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) to spread awareness about cardiovascular diseases (CVD), which are the world's leading cause of death, claiming 17.9 million lives each year globally.

History:

• Founding: The idea for World Heart Day was conceived by Antoni Bayés de Luna, president of the World Heart Federation (1997-99).
• First Celebration: The first celebration took place on September 24, 2000.
• Annual Theme: Each year features a different theme to highlight specific aspects of heart health.

Traditions and Activities:

In the United States, activities and traditions for World Heart Day focus on promoting a heart-healthy lifestyle. These may include:

• Health Fairs and Screenings: Hospitals and clinics may offer free or discounted heart health screenings and fairs.
• Educational Events: Seminars and workshops to educate people about risk factors, prevention, and management of heart diseases.
• Physical Activities: Organized walks, runs, fitness sessions, or other physical events to encourage active living.

Participation:

Individuals and organizations participate by:

• Wearing red clothing or accessories to show support for heart disease awareness.
• Sharing personal stories and information on social media using hashtags like #WorldHeartDay.
• Making commitments to adopt healthier habits such as quitting smoking or improving their diet.

On World Heart Day in the United States, various entities collaborate—ranging from government agencies to non-profits—to disseminate information aimed at reducing the impact of heart disease nationwide.