Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the world. According to the World Health Organization, nearly 18 million people die each year from heart-related issues.

The American College of Cardiology reports:

— Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in the United States, responsible for 840,768 deaths (635,260 cardiac) in 2016. From 2006 to 2016, the US death rate from CVD decreased by 18.6 percent and from coronary heart disease by 31.8 percent.

— Approximately every 40 seconds, an American will have a myocardial infarction. The average age of first myocardial infarction is 65.6 years old for men and 72.0 years old for women.

— In the United States in 2019, coronary events are expected to occur in about 1,055,000 individuals, including 720,000 new and 335,000 recurrent coronary events.

— Every 40 seconds on average, an American will have a stroke. About 795,000 Americans have a new or recurrent stroke annually. About 90 percent of stroke risk is due to modifiable risk factors; 74 percent is due to behavioral risk factors.

Each year, Sept. 29 is observed as World Heart Day to serve as an opportunity to raise awareness about the impacts, risk factors, causes and prevention of heart diseases.

This year’s theme is “My Heart, Your Heart,” and the campaign is asking people to make a promise to make one small change that could improve their health and reduce their risk of heart disease or other heart-related illnesses.

The World Heart Federation offers a few ways you can make small changes that could improve your heart health:

— Eat well and drink wisely. Cut down on sugary beverages, and choose water or unsweetened juices instead. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. Limit alcohol intake. Limit consumption of processed or prepackaged goods, which are often higher in sugar, salt and fat. Make your meals at home.

— Be more active. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity five times a week. Any kind of physical activity — playing with your children, walking, doing housework, dancing, riding a bike, etc. — is better than none. Make small changes like taking the stairs instead of the elevator, walking or cycling instead of driving, parking at the back of the lot, etc. that can add physical activity to your day.

— Say no to smoking. If you already smoke, quit. Within two years of quitting, the risk of coronary heart disease is substantially reduced. Within 15 years, the risk of cardiovascular disease returns to that of a non-smoker. Exposure to secondhand smoke is also a cause of heart disease in non-smokers. So by quitting (or not starting in the first place), you’ll not only improve your health but that of those around you.

Besides making these personal changes, take World Heart Day as an opportunity to talk with those you love about making better choices, too. Consider having a loving conversation about why you would like to see those around you improve their health as well. It could mean a better quality of life and more years spent together.

Editorials represent the opinion of the newspaper’s editorial board. The board is comprised of publisher Michael Caldwell and Bluegrass Newsmedia editors Whitney Leggett and Ben Kleppinger. To inquire about a meeting with the board, contact Caldwell at 759-0095.