Today, Tuesday 29th September, is World Heart Day. This year the World Heart Federation continues its Don’t Miss a Beat campaign, shining a light on the hidden, overlooked or dismissed signs of heart disease – because recognising them early can save lives. Heart disease remains the world’s leading cause of death, yet most of it is preventable.
I find the wisdom, science and energy of our hearts truly fascinating.
I’m no expert but from GP Referral, Cardiac Rehab Stage 4, mBraining Head, Heart, Gut Brains, Tri and Run Coaching, Young Athlete Sudden Death, Long Covid Recovery training, clients, family and personal heart experiences, here are a few thoughts to explore.
What’s your heart feeling? All feelings are welcome. How do you manage them?
Acknowledging and allowing love, loss, trauma, joy, grief, peace and all the feels helps with healing, calming the nervous system and building resilience.
Are you noticing the signs? Breathlessness, chest discomfort, palpitations, dizziness or tiredness that won’t lift are worth a conversation with your GP. Please don’t brush them aside – and if you have sudden chest pain, call 999.
How is your nutrition and hydration? Does it support your heart and circulation? Would simple changes help and be possible?
Mediterranean diets tend to help. @doctors_kitchen has great interviews.
Breathing deeply and pausing, mindfulness. Would this help? One hand on heart and one on gut area, breathing deeply can help calm our nervous system.
Moving our bodies, walking, time in nature, strengthening our posture, building our strength can help us.
Little changes can make a big difference.
- Managing and understanding our stress, how to be helpful to ourselves. Reducing digital time, increasing connection with people close to us, having time on our own. Knowing yourself.
- Quality sleep, if possible – what would help you? If you work nights or irregular hours, have disturbed sleep, kids or travel, how can you calm things?
- Surround yourself with a support system, guidance and advice if you are directly affected, supporting someone affected, or have lost someone.
A little while ago I had acute myopericarditis and a blood clot in the inferior vena cava. The journey has been profound and helps me to help others with more empathy.
Life can change in an instant, for ourselves and those we love.
Take the risks
Open your heart
Heal and hope
For today is our now.
Anything is not always possible, but something always is….
Follow your heart today.
You may be interested in listening to Faith Harrison’s Heart podcast here.
Want to get involved? The World Heart Federation invites you to take the Heart Smart Quiz, make a Keep the Beat pledge on the new World Heart Day app, and share your own Heart Story using #DontMissABeat. Find out more here.
A heart for others
Caring for our hearts also means caring for each other. My fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Support continues this year and every donation helps someone facing cancer feel less alone. Thank you to everyone who has already given, shared and cheered me on – if you’d like to support, you can do so here.
Dates for your diary
BREATHE II: THE MUSICAL WELLBEING GETAWAY – OCT 2026
TRANSFORM YOUR 2026 – PART 2 – WORKSHOP – DATE TBC
Fancy a challenge of your own for 2027? Macmillan’s Mighty Hikes interest list is now open – a wonderful way to walk, connect with a supportive community and raise funds together.
Register your interest
If you’d like support to look after your heart, mind and energy – through 1:1 coaching, a team workshop or a talk – I’d love to hear from you.
Take a moment today to place a hand on your heart, breathe, and thank it for everything it does. Then book that check-up you’ve been putting off.
With warmth,
Kim x