World Heart Day is Sat. 29^th September, 2012

The following activities will take place in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands from 25 September 2012 to 29 September 2012:

• Advertising on website
• Conference/seminars to healthcare
• Press activities
• Public education (distributing leaflets, talks, counselling, etc)
• Screenings
• Social media (Youtube, Twitter, Facebook, etc.)

World Heart Day was created in 2000 to inform people around the globe that heart disease and stroke are the world’s leading cause of death, claiming 17.3 million lives each year and the numbers are rising.
By 2030, it is expected that 23 million people will die from CVDs annually – that is more than the population of Australia!

World Heart Day takes place on 29 September each year:
Together with its members, the World Heart Federation spreads the news that at least 80% of premature deaths from heart disease and stroke could be avoided if the main risk factors, tobacco, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, are controlled.

This year in continuation from our 2011 theme of home heart health we will make 2012 the year of cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention among women and children because:

Women/children and CVD are not synonymous:

• CVD is commonly considered an “older persons” and a “man’s” disease
• Women underestimate their CVD risk; even though almost half of the 17.3 million annual deaths occur in women

Children are particularly at risk, since they have little control over their environment and can be limited in choices to live heart­-healthily

Unless action is taken to enable heart-­healthy activity, the children of today are at increased CVD risk later in life

Women/mothers are often the « gate keeper » to their family’s health hence a key influencer in keeping their hearts healthy.

The World Heart Federation is looking for people affected by heart disease or stroke who are happy to publically share their stories. Their aim is to show the impact that heart disease and stroke can have on an individual who suffers from such a condition, as well as how it can affect their family and loved ones. Your contribution would support their global campaign to raise awareness of heart disease and stroke, address misunderstandings about the conditions, and educate people on the steps that can be taken towards better heart health.

By putting faces to heart disease and stroke statistics, your real life experiences can also assist them in urging world leaders to prioritize the prevention, treatment and control of the conditions, to help avoid the millions of unnecessary deaths that take place each year.

If you are willing to participate, your information and experiences will be collected via a short conversation either in person or by phone. Your story will then potentially be written up for publication on the World Heart Federation website.

Further to the interview, you may also be offered the opportunity to share your experience with journalists to assist them with their reporting on heart disease and stroke, and to help raise awareness of the conditions amongst the general public.

Please be assured that your personal information and contact details will never be shared without your consent. All opportunities will be fully explained to you to ensure you are completely comfortable before activities begin.

For more information go to:

http://www.world-heart-federation.org/what-we-do/awareness/world-heart-day/thehumanfaceofheartdiseaseandstroke/