RAWALPINDI, Sept 29: World Heart Day is being observed on Sunday to create public awareness of risk factors for heart disease and stroke and to promote preventive measures.

Each year, World Heart Day focuses on a specific theme, and this year’s campaign encourages people to “team up for healthy hearts” as a reminder of how families and communities can plan an important role in helping individuals to reduce their risk for heart attack and stroke by focusing on areas such as unhealthy diets, physical inactivity and tobacco use.

Cardio-vascular diseases, including heart attacks and strokes are the world’s largest killers, claiming 17.5 million lives a year — 80 per cent of the victims are in low and middle income countries.

The good news is that heart disease and stroke is largely preventable if the main risk factors, including high blood pressure, high levels of cholesterol and blood glucose, tobacco use, inadequate intake of fruit and vegetables, overweight and obesity, and physical inactivity are reduced.

There are 155 million overweight and obese children globally.

Studies from around the world show that parents play a key role in influencing the lifelong habits of their children, which include a healthy diet, regular exercise and not using tobacco.

Children should be reminded that the way they eat, drink and move determines their future heart health.