Jakarta (ANTARA) – World Heart Day (WHD), celebrated annually on September 29, always holds different meanings, and this year, it is observed with the theme of “Use Heart, Know Heart.”kin to other countries, Indonesia also commemorates WHD with the theme of “Know Your Healthy Heart, Love Your Life.” It is a known fact that cardiovascular disease currently still ranks as the top cause of death in Indonesia and the world. On the occasion of WHD celebration, various activities are held to provide an understanding and to increase public awareness of the importance of maintaining overall health, including of the heart. Cardiovascular diseases can develop at any age, be it among adults and even babies. Director of non-communicable disease prevention and control at the Health Ministry, Eva Susanti, stated that cardiovascular diseases cause the highest number of deaths in Indonesia. “The leading causes of death in Indonesia are stroke, with 19.42 percent, and ischemic heart disease (heart attack), with 14.38 percent,” Susanti remarked. She highlighted that the two cardiovascular diseases are a cause for concern in Indonesia and the world, as ischemic heart disease causes 16.17 percent of deaths in the world, while strokes account for 11.59 percent of fatalities. Susanti also pointed out that in 2022, financing for catastrophic diseases had risen to Rp24.06 trillion (around US$1.56 billion). Moreover, Chairperson of the Indonesia Heart Foundation (Yayasan Jantung Indonesia/YJI) Esti Nurjadin believes that cardiovascular disease is a non-communicable disease that currently ranks first in mortality and morbidity in Indonesia. The Health Ministry’s Basic Health Research (Riskesdas) in 2013 and 2018 shows an increasing trend in cardiovascular disease, namely 0.5 percent in 2013 to 1.5 percent in 2018. She remarked that cardiovascular disease also ranks the highest in the government’s health funding, namely Rp8.9 trillion in 2022 and Rp8.6 trillion in 2021, thereby remaining one of the biggest public health problems in Indonesia. Nurjadin noted that currently, air pollution also had a major impact on health. “In the short term, exposure to pollution can cause acute respiratory infections (ISPA), while in the long term, it can affect the performance of the body’s organs, one of them, the heart,” she cautioned. She said that YJI, which has a vision and mission as a Healthy Lifestyle Pioneer, also conducts promotional and preventative activities to increase public awareness of the importance of preventing heart and blood vessel disease through Panca Usaha/Jantung S.E.H.A.T. “We have a goal to help the government reduce the number of sufferers of heart and cardiovascular disease, so that we can reduce the burden of BPJS financing,” she remarked. S.E.H.A.T is the acronym for the Five Steps to a Healthy Heart that is applied in the form of promotive, preventive, and rehabilitative activities, namely: Balance nutrition (Seimbangkan gizi), stop smoking (Enyahkah rokok), face and overcome stress (Hadapi dan atasi stres), monitor blood pressure (Awasi tekanan darah), and exercise regularly (Teratur berolahraga).

Source: Antara News Agency