World Heart Day is celebrated every year on September 29. This day is celebrated to raise awareness about heart diseases and preventive measures to manage cardiovascular diseases globally. The events include educating people on the signs and symptoms of cardiovascular diseases and avoiding further complications. World Heart Day 2025 also encourages people to have a healthy lifestyle to prevent and control heart-related ailments.
The heart is one of the most important organs of the human body. A malfunctioning heart could lead to death. It is essential for good heart health. Due to a lack of awareness about cardiovascular health and certain lifestyle habits, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide.
Annually, about 1.7 crore people die due to cardiovascular disease, accounting for approximately 31% of all global mortality. The most common reasons for death include heart attack, stroke and coronary heart disease. These heart disorders account for nearly 85% of total deaths due to cardiovascular ailments.
The theme for World Heart Day 2025 is “Don’t Miss a Beat”. It emphasises the importance of continuous vigilance in heart health, encouraging individuals to be proactive by not ignoring warning signs, maintaining healthy habits, scheduling regular check-ups, and seeking timely medical attention to prevent cardiovascular disease-related deaths.
The idea to observe a World Heart Day globally was given by Dr Antoni Baie de Luna, former president of the World Health Federation. World Heart Day was introduced in 1999 in collaboration with the World Health Organisation. The first World Heart Day was observed on September 24, 2000, and until 2011, the day continued its mission of creating awareness about the management of cardiovascular disease on the very last Sunday of September.
In 2012, however, the idea to curb the global mortality due to non-communicable diseases by 25 per cent by 2025 was established, and global leaders came together for this cause, and September 29 was marked as World Heart Day. According to the study, silent risks are widespread. These include artery calcification, fatty liver, and sleep apnea, which are being detected even in those without symptoms.
Post-menopausal women face higher cardiovascular risk and need tailored screening, the study said. Vitamin D and B12 deficiencies, as well as anaemia, can reduce energy levels, making it more challenging to sustain regular exercise. Alarmingly, inactivity among teenagers is leading to poor flexibility, strength, and balance before the age of 25, setting the stage for future heart disease.
