Putting the heart back into World Heart Day 2025: a personal story

Do you know what blows my mind? recent stats show someone dies from cardiovascular disease (CVD) every three minutes in the UK alone.¹ I’ve always known heart disease was serious, but seeing stats like these really hit home, and for me, it did.

I don't need a stat to know the impact this has on a family, as my dad lived with CVD for years. He suffered multiple mini strokes, a heart attack that led to triple bypass surgery, and dealt with a long list of related conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes, for as long as I can remember. Despite his strength and efforts to manage his health, the damage had been done. Three years ago, he passed away from a heart attack.

I remember that day so clearly. The week before, he seemed completely fine. Then, just days later, he was gone. He went into the hospital on a Wednesday and passed away on Friday. He showed all the warning signs: chest discomfort, shortness of breath, and cold sweats², but by then it was too late.

His death was a painful reminder of how brutal CVD can be, not just to those who suffer from it, but also to their loved ones. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about what life would be like if he were still here.

His journey was full of medical procedures, lifestyle changes, hope, and heartbreak. As difficult as it was, it strengthened my commitment to raising awareness about heart disease and its impact.

Why CVD deserves your attention

CVD is often overlooked, until it touches us personally. This disease doesn’t take any prisoners. It can affect anyone, and we need to keep it front of mind.

Growing up in an Indian household, healthy eating and regular exercise weren’t part of our daily routine. It just wasn’t the norm in our culture. However, I think today, where healthy living has become so valued, Indian culture is starting to adopt this. Also, after what I have experienced with my dad, I have become more conscious to make a point to exercise and eat clean. I wish that this healthy mindset was always part of my culture, because I truly believe that if my dad had learned the importance of heart health earlier in life, he might still be with us today.

That’s why I’m writing this. In this post, I’ll share facts about CVD, the key risk factors, and simple but effective prevention tips. Whether you’re looking to improve your own heart health or support someone you care about, these are steps we can all take. My hope is that you’ll walk away from this feeling empowered knowing the factors that cause it and take action, because the fight against heart disease starts with each of us.

What causes cardiovascular disease?

There are several risk factors that can increase the chances of developing CVD.³ Some of the most common include:

• Unhealthy diet: Too many processed or fatty foods can raise cholesterol and increase CVD risk
• Lack of exercise: A sedentary lifestyle can lead to obesity, high blood pressure, and heart strain
• Smoking: Tobacco significantly raises the risk of heart attacks and strokes
• Alcohol: Heavy drinking can increase blood pressure and lead to heart failure
• Family history: If CVD runs in your family, your risk may be higher
• Chronic conditions: Diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol are major contributors to heart disease

Recognising the signs of CVD

With more than 20.5 million lives lost globally to CVD each year⁴, it’s vital that we do what we can to prevent it from taking more.

This starts by making sure we are aware of the warning signs. If we are, this can be truly lifesaving, as early detection significantly improves outcomes.

Although men and women can share overlapping signs, men usually experience more of the well-known symptoms such as:³,⁵

• Crushing pain or discomfort in the chest
• Pain in the arms, shoulders, jaw or back
• Shortness of breath
• Cold sweats or nausea

Whereas women’s signs are less obvious and more likely to be ignored. They are likely to occur while resting, during regular exercise or even while asleep.⁶ These symptoms include:⁵,⁶

• Diffused pain in the shoulders, neck, jaw, arms, abdomen and back
• Heartburn or indigestion
• Unexplained anxiety
• Light-headedness or Dizziness
• Shortness of breath
• Palpitations
• Cold sweat
• Unexplained fatigue

It's important to seek medical help if you or someone you know experience any of these symptoms. Do not ignore the early signs.

How can we prevent it?

The good news is that many of these risk factors can be addressed. Here are some lifestyle changes that can make a real difference:³

• Eat a balanced diet: Focus on fruits, vegetables, wholegrains, and fibre. Cut down on saturated fats, sugar, and salt
• Get moving: Aim for regular physical activity such as walking, running, swimming, or cycling. Start small and build up
• Limit alcohol: Stick to the recommended limit of 14 units per week, spread out over several days
• Quit smoking: It's one of the best things you can do for your heart, and your overall health

What is World Heart Day?

‍World Heart Day takes place every year on 29th September, and it’s all about educating people on the importance of heart health and preventing premature deaths caused by CVD.⁷

Led by the World Heart Federation, the day unites governments, organisations, healthcare professionals, and individuals to raise awareness that most heart disease is preventable. It’s a global call for better care, stronger policies, and healthier lifestyle choices. It’s also a chance for each of us to reflect and take steps to protect our hearts, and the hearts of those we love.

Why we must act now Heart disease doesn’t just affect older adults or people with a known history. It can strike anyone, at any age. The encouraging part is that we can significantly lower our risk by making better lifestyle choices, starting today.

I encourage everyone to take a moment to reflect on your own habits. Could a few small changes help protect your heart? Whether it’s going for a walk, preparing a healthy meal, or booking a check-up, every action matters.

Let’s honour those we’ve lost, by committing to change. Together, we can raise awareness, support each other, and reduce the impact of cardiovascular disease worldwide.

The fight against heart disease begins with awareness, and it starts with each of us.

Damini Joshi I Account Manager

References

1. British Heart Foundation (2025). UK CVD Statistics Factsheet. [online] Available at: https://www.bhf.org.uk/-/media/files/for-professionals/research/heart-statistics/bhf-cvd-statistics-uk-factsheet.pdf [Accessed May 2025].
2. World Health Organization (2021). Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs) Fact Sheet. [online] Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cardiovascular-diseases-(cvds) [Accessed May 2025].
3. NHS (2025). Cardiovascular Disease. [online] Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cardiovascular-disease/ [Accessed May 2025].
4. World Heart Federation (2025). About World Heart Day. [online] Available at: https://world-heart-federation.org/world-heart-day/about-whd/ [Accessed May 2025].
5. Medical News Today (2018) What are the symptoms of heart disease in men?[0nline] Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322237 [Accessed July 2025]
6. World Heart Federation (2025). Women & CVD. [online] Available at: https://world-heart-federation.org/what-we-do/women-cvd/  [Accessed July 2025].
7. World Heart Federation (2025). What is CVD?. [online] Available at: https://world-heart-federation.org/what-is-cvd/ [Accessed May 2025].

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