Launches the eighth annual campaign for World Heart Day

Under the slogan "Know your heart and do your part"

The King Faisal Cardiac Center at King Abdul-Aziz Medical City in Jeddah launches the activities of the eighth annual campaign to raise awareness of heart diseases under the slogan “Know your heart and do your part” on Thursday, October 28.

Dr. Atif Al-Zahrani, Chairman of the Organizing Committee and a Consultant Adult Cardiology and Cardiac Imaging, indicated that the campaign aims to shed light and educate the community about the causes and risk factors that lead to heart failure such as coronary atherosclerosis and arrhythmia, in addition how to detect these diseases at its early stages to prevent it and/or slow down its progression. Also, will mention the methods of treating and caring for patients with various heart muscle diseases. Dr. Atif also emphasized that awareness and education of the risk factors such as diabetes, stress, obesity, smoking, and an unhealthy lifestyle is an important part to reduce the spread of heart diseases, which is one of the most important causes of premature death locally and globally.

The following departments are participating in the eighth annual campaign to raise awareness of heart diseases this year: Non-invasive lab to raise awareness of all cardiac examination methods, including Echocardiography, ECG, etc. Pharmacy services to educate the community using educational brochures and recorded illustrative materials about heart medications usage methods and their importance. The Department of Clinical Nutrition is also involved to educate about correcting false beliefs about heart-healthy food. The Department of Social Services to raise awareness of the available supports that cardiac patients may need. The Department of Health Education and the Department of Rehabilitation participate in the comprehensive awareness of heart diseases, the risks factors, and how to prevent them. KAFA Association also contributes to combat smoking and drugs by presenting demonstrations about how to quit smoking and using illustrative models of the effect of smoking and drugs on the heart and lungs.

Dr. Jamila Saad Al-Rahimi, head of King Faisal Cardiac Center, stated that awareness and education campaigns for the community have become a local and global strategy that the National Guard Health Affairs have given the utmost attention, believing in the importance of this aspect and its positive impact on the health of the individual and the society. What distinguishes the launch of this year's campaign is the virtual and physical preparation of the campaign, contents and the active participation of many members from various departments, in addition to the keenness of the King Faisal Center to provide comprehensive awareness of the tangible progress in the available methods of diagnosing and treating cardiomyopathies, whether through cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology lab or through open heart surgery.

On his part, Dr. Atif Al-Zahrani explained that this health event includes a virtual program for a series of scientific awareness lectures presented by a group of consultant cardiologists, addressed to all members of the society. Many recorded educational materials were used to discuss various topics in the diagnosis and treatment of heart diseases and shed light on the available medical developments.

Dr. Jamila Al-Rahimi concluded by thanking the organizing committee and all participating departments for their efforts to make this event successful and beneficial for our society.​