World Heart Day Part 2

The World Heart Federation (WHF) today launches its World Heart Day 2026 campaign, shining a light on the symptoms of heart disease that can go unnoticed, until it’s too late. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) claims over 20 million lives every year – but many of these deaths are preventable. Still, too many symptoms are being missed, dismissed or ignored. Now in its second year, the global Don’t Miss a Beat campaign is urging people to act now: calling on them this World Heart Day to see the signs, protect their hearts and demand action. See the signs CVD can hide in plain sight. Warning signs often go unnoticed, and many other symptoms stay silent. To help people see the signs, WHF is launching the Are You Heart Smart? Quiz. The quiz covers everything from common myths, hidden symptoms, and risk factors people may not recognise. It can be taken on the World Heart Day website or app – and WHF is encouraging participants to share their results on social media using #DontMissABeat and @worldheartfederation. Protect your heart 80% of CVD deaths are caused by risk factors that can be prevented or managed. Even small changes such as moving more or eating healthier can make a big difference in improving heart health. That’s why, following its success during last year’s campaign, the Keep the Beat challenge is back! Keep the Beat encourages people to pledge to become more active throughout September. Last year’s Keep the Beat challenge saw people pledge to undertake exercise ranging from walking to yoga to rock climbing. Participants can make their pledges for this year on the World Heart Day website or via the brand-new app and are encouraged to share progress on social media.