Push Play Today For Your Heart’s Sake

Push Play Today For Your Heart’s Sake, Foundation Asks

The National Heart Foundation of New Zealand is backing SPARC’s call to Kiwis to “Keep it Up” this Push Play Day, saying they should do so for the sake of their hearts.

SPARC’s annual Push Play Day today (November 4th) celebrates the fact that Kiwis are more active than ever, and more active than their Australian counterparts.

Regular physical activity is one of the strongest protective measures people can take against the risk of heart disease developing in the future, and is also an important part of cardiac recovery and rehabilitation.

“So the news that New Zealanders are doing better than ever before at ‘Pushing Play’ is great news, as it means more people are helping their hearts stay fit and strong,” says the Heart Foundation’s Public Health Manager Dr Kawshi De Silva.

“World Health Organisation research shows that 80% of heart disease is preventable if people follow a simple three-part recipe of eating well, exercising regularly and being smokefree, as well as having regular health checks.”

Moderate intensity physical activity that uses the large muscles in your arms and legs is the best type of activity for improving the heart, and there are so many ways to have fun while doing cardiovascular exercise, she says.

“This year the Heart Foundation’s branches around the country are supporting other organisations to hold fun events in the community, such as walks in the Hawke’s Bay and in Tauranga and children’s events in Taranaki.

“We’re hoping to see many hearts out there pumping and active on November 4th!”

Heart disease is still the biggest killer in New Zealand, responsible for 40% of all deaths each year and Maori and Pacific Island communities are particularly at risk. The Heart Foundation is the charity that works to fight heart disease through healthy lifestyle programmes, cardiac rehabilitation programmes and funding medical research.

© Scoop Media