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.

Dr Pushpa Chaturvedi

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. 

Visual by Dr Pushpa Chaturvedi

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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