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Singapore Heart Foundation Celebrates National Heart Week/World Heart Day 2023: Controlling Sodium Intake & High Blood Pressure
Singapore, 30 September 2023 – Singapore Heart Foundation (SHF) joined the global community to celebrate its annual event, National Heart Week/World Heart Day (NHW/WHD) 2023, at Toa Payoh HDB Hub Atrium on 30 September. Guest of Honour, Mdm Rahayu Mahzam, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Law, graced the event.
To raise awareness of cardiovascular disease (CVD), this year’s event emphasises the management of sodium intake and high blood pressure. SHF unveiled its latest initiatives at the event, including the Blood Pressure Awareness Booths and the captivating dance-along theme song “Do the Hugo Pump”.
World Heart Day is a vital initiative organised by the World Heart Federation to fight the world’s biggest killer by making small changes in our lifestyle1. Persistent high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, continues to be a significant concern among Singaporeans. Not only is it one of the most common risk factors for heart attacks2, but the National Population Health Survey 2022 has revealed a notable surge in the prevalence of hypertension, escalating from 24.2% in 2017 to a staggering 37% in 20223. In Singapore, 23 people die from CVD daily, accounting for 31.4% of all deaths in 20224. This means that almost 1 in 3 deaths in Singapore is due to heart disease or stroke. In response to these alarming statistics, SHF announced various initiatives and programmes this NHW/WHD designed to address the country’s elevated blood pressure levels and, ultimately, enhance heart health.
“At SHF, we firmly believe that equipping the public with the proper knowledge regarding high blood pressure and other risk factors associated with CVD is an important step in reducing disability and mortality rates related to the disease,” said Prof Tan Huay Cheem, Chairman of SHF. “Through the various activities and programmes by the Foundation, we aim to educate Singaporeans on crucial information about blood pressure and CVD, while inspiring them to reduce their sodium consumption for the best of their hearts.”
During NHW/WHD 2023, SHF organised diverse activities for the public to enjoy. These included an educational exhibition, informative health talks, basic health check, invigorating fitness sessions, and more.
Learning to Manage Blood Pressure through Less Sodium
Unsurprisingly, excessive salt consumption is associated with an increased risk of hypertension. Yet, on average, Singaporeans consume almost twice the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended daily sodium limit of less than 2,000mg5.
SHF made it a priority to focus on controlling salt intake; selecting it as the central theme for this year’s event. Moreover, SHF collaborated with Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) to conduct a Salt Taste Threshold Survey that yielded valuable research findings on the connection between salt taste threshold and hypertension. To further show their dedication, the Foundation is collaborating with the Singapore Nutrition and Dietetics Association (SNDA) and The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) to jointly organise a symposium on sodium reduction and the role of salt substitutes on 21 October.
Moving and Grooving to Heart Health
Debuting for the first time on the NHW/WHD 2023 main stage was “Do the Hugo Pump”, a two-minute dance-along theme song featuring Hugo, the Foundation’s mascot. This creative addition to the Foundation’s schools programme harnesses the power of music and dance to engage students, making the learning about heart health habits enjoyable and effective.
The song, imparts valuable lessons on heart-healthy habits such as staying active, getting enough sleep, and making wise dietary choices, will be introduced during Assembly Talks at participating Primary and Secondary schools from October 2023. Stay tuned for an exciting online dance challenge towards the end of the year!
Painting the Town Red for #GoRedforWHD
As an integral and yearly part of NHW/WHD 2023, Singapore’s night skyline underwent a remarkable transformation on 29 September when 22 iconic landmarks lit up in various shades of red. As part of the #GoRedforWHD movement, this global initiative involved illuminating prominent buildings and landmarks in a vibrant hue of red to symbolise health, vitality, and red alert, which signifies the importance of recognising warning signs and symptoms of CVD. Among these illustrious locations were Gardens by the Bay, the Helix Bridge, the Singapore Flyer, Our Tampines Hub, Junction 8, and the Singapore Sports Hub.
(Please refer to this link for the full list of participating buildings and landmarks.)
Bringing Health Management to Your Neighbourhood
In May this year, SHF joined forces with the Bishan East-Sin Ming Constituency Office to launch a pilot programme featuring 10 Blood Pressure Awareness Booths in community spaces to make blood pressure monitoring convenient and accessible for the public. Designed to empower individuals to prioritise their health management and detect high blood pressure early, these booths have been extended to schools and corporate workplaces, encouraging busy professionals to take proactive steps toward their wellbeing.
Building upon the initiative’s success, SHF announced plans to deploy additional Blood Pressure Awareness Booths at community centres across the East, North, South, and West districts.
“The Blood Pressure Awareness Booth has enriched the lives of our teachers and staff at Pei Chun Public School by making BP measurements accessible,” said a teacher from Pei Chun Public School. “The informative display has empowered us to measure our blood pressure accurately and promote our well-being. This initiative not only enhanced the overall well-being of our staff but has also cultivated a culture of wellness that has an impact far beyond the premises of Pei Chun Public School.”
(Please refer to this link for more information on the BP Awareness booth locations.)
- https://world-heart-federation.org/world-heart-day/about-whd/
- https://nrdo.gov.sg/docs/librariesprovider3/default-document-library/ami-infographic.pdf
- https://www.myheart.org.sg/heart-news/salt-and-high-blood-pressure/
- https://www.myheart.org.sg/health/heart-disease-statistics/
- https://www.myheart.org.sg/heart-news/salt-and-high-blood-pressure/
