World Heart Day is an international campaign held every year on Sept. 29 to inform people about cardiovascular disease — the biggest cause of death — and promote preventive measures to reduce the risk.

The first World Heart Day was celebrated in 2000 as a joint initiative between the World Heart Foundation and World Health Organization. It is the world’s largest platform for raising awareness about cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and disability in the world, killing 17.5 million people a year. That amount is a third of all deaths on the planet and half of all noncommunicable disease-related deaths. Around 80 percent of these deaths are in low- and middle-income countries where human and financial resources are least able to address the cardiovascular burden.

World Heart Day plays a crucial role in fixing this issue. It is a vital global platform that can be used to raise awareness and encourage individuals, families, communities and governments to take action. This year’s theme is “My Heart, Your Heart.”

Be on the lookout for cardiovascular statistics and heart healthy tips from @ACCinTouch and @CardioSmart throughout the day on Twitter by using the hashtag #WorldHeartDay.

Join the ACC in recognizing World Heart Day as thousands of activities and events will be organized around the world to spread the word about combating premature mortality caused by cardiovascular disease, the world’s number one killer.

This article was authored by Sharon M. Morgan, NP, AACC, nurse practitioner specialist at the Banner University Medical Center in Tucson, AZ.