On World Heart Day today, DR PUSHPA CHATURVEDI gives readers simple tips on how to nurture a happy, healthy, loving, caring, and sharing heart
World Heart Day is celebrated globally every year on September 29, to raise awareness and educate people about cardiovascular disease. People are educated on what needs to be done to control the risk factors and ways to help keep our heart healthy.
It was in 2012 that world health leaders made a commitment to work towards reducing global mortality from cardiovascular disease, which accounts for nearly half of all deaths from non-communicable diseases, making it the world’s number one killer. It was in 2012 that September 29 was declared as World Heart Day.
The theme for 2021 World Heart Day is Use Your Heart To Connect. It’s about using your knowledge, compassion and influence to make sure you, your loved ones and the communities you are 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 digital power to connect every heart, everywhere.
A dialogue with your Heart: Connect to your heart
Your heart is precious
It needs tender loving care
Love your heart more than mine
No it’s not unfair!
Listen to your solitary (sweet) heart
As it talks to you
Now let’s give it a start
It implores and pleads to you to be sincere
Please give your heart your most attentive ear.
Change for the better
Be an early bird
Up and on the go
This cannot be deferred
A brisk walk, jogging or cycling as preferred
At least for half an hour
And spread the good word.
Breathing exercises recharge your heart drive
Meditation helps your heart take a calm dive
Busy work schedules stops your heart from meandering
Leaves no time to get caught in a heart breaking fling.
Though not a magic bullet
But benefits it has many,
8-10 glasses of drinking water per day
Hardly costs a penny
Controls your calories
hydration and muscle energy
Glows your skin
Detoxifies your body
Reducing lethargy.
Eat heart healthy foods
To lay a solid foundation
Refuse fried, fizzy drinks, sweets
And control your temptation
Say yes to fresh fruits, veggies
Toned milk, whole grains and sprouts
How long can you follow this?
You seem to have doubts!
Do the parties and celebrations make you a chocoholic?
Occasionally break the rule
But don’t let it be chronic
Balancing your caloric intake
To your caloric expenditure
You need to account for it
In a mind fetching questionnaire.
A healthy balanced diet
Will keep the heart healthy and cool
Overeating, processed and stale foods
Are against the rule
Plan your meals meticulously
As per your body needs
No binging in between meals
It’s is a bad sign of greed.
Stay clear of alcohol
Smoking and drug addiction
Keep positive company
Walk away from drama and friction
Late nights, less sleep
Too much work or exercise
Are a no no
A minimum 8 hours sleep
And work-life balance will make you glow.
Emotional well being is important
To stay heart healthy
Share your thoughts with family and friends
It helps immensely
Worry and stress impact the heart directly
So please stay calm
And let go all negativity.
Surrender and accept what life gives you
Make the best of each situation
As you sail through
To work in peace
Your heart needs you to be at ease
Don’t let people and situations
Rob away your peace.
A happy heart is a healthy heart
Never ever forget this
Laugh, smile, love
Care and share your heart
Gets a loving kiss
Destroy ego, anger, violence and greed
Forgive and forget
Shed these heavy loads from your heart
They make your heart sweat.
Remember your delicate heart
Needs tender loving care
We only have one heart each
Wish we had a spare!
Featured Image by Dr Pushpa Chaturvedi
Dr Pushpa Chaturvedi, a paediatrician with over 50 years’ experience, is an educationist and researcher, with over 100 research publications, mainly on social paediatrics in renowned medical journals. Ex-Professor and Head of Department of Paediatrics, MGIMS Sevagram, Wardha, she is a thinker, writer, poet, artist and a spiritual blogger with over 500 blogs to her credit. Dr Chaturvedi is also a keen traveller, music and nature lover.
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