UEFA support for World Heart Day
Friday 26 September 2008
e-mail
Print
Digg
Save
Football keeps your heart healthy (©www.albaniasoccer.com)
On Sunday 28 September, UEFA will be supporting the World Heart Federation's World Heart Day initiative for the fourth consecutive year.
'Know Your Risk'
The theme for this year's World Heart Day is 'Know Your Risk', encouraging people to adopt healthy lifestyles, as well as have checks by their health-care professional. This year's event is being supported by Olympic marathon gold-medal winner Stefano Baldini. "I know my heart is the strongest, most important muscle in my body and a winning performance depends on its vitality," he says. "Having a healthy diet will help keep my heart young and my career long."
Core partner
As one of UEFA's six core partners under its Football and Social Responsibility portfolio, the World Heart Federation will work with UEFA on the promotion of healthy, active lifestyles in order to ensure longer, healthier lives. The good news is that heart disease and strokes are largely preventable and there are straightforward, affordable steps that can be taken to reduce major risk factors. World Heart Day is a great opportunity for all of use to think about our heart health and to make a conscious effort to take these steps:
– Be active: 30 minutes of brisk activity a day can lower blood pressure and football is an ideal sport to keep your heart healthy.
– Eat at least five servings of fruit and vegetables a day.
– Use less salt and avoid processed foods. Try to limit your salt intake to less than five grams per day (about a teaspoon).
– Quit smoking. Your risk of heart disease will be halved within a year and will return to normal levels within 15 years.
– Maintain a healthy weight. Weight loss, combined especially with a lowered salt intake and lower blood pressure, reduces risk.
– Have a heart health check-up by a health-care professional on a regular basis.
Activities near you
World Heart Day events are running in 100 countries and attract tens of thousands of participants each year. Activities on the day include football games, health checks, walks, runs, jump-rope, fitness sessions, public talks, stage shows, scientific forums, exhibitions, concerts and sports tournaments. Click here to find out about activities taking place near you: http://www.world-heart-federation.org/what-we-do/world-heart-day/
©uefa.com 1998-2009. All rights reserved.
