On World Heart Day, discover how diet, exercise, and faith can strengthen your life.
September 29, 2025 | Montemorelos, Nuevo León, Mexico | Yerik Macías, Montemorelos Universit
Imagine reaching age 80 or 90 with energy, independence, and without diseases that limit your life. By then, your heart will have beaten close to 3 billion times—without stopping for a single second since the day you began to exist
This tireless organ is so vital that if it stopped beating for more than six seconds, you would lose consciousness; if the silence continued, your life would end. The heart powers every breath, every movement, every experience. Without it, life simply stops.
Today, in the United States, someone dies every 34 seconds from a cardiovascular disease. In Mexico—and around the world—these diseases remain the leading cause of death. That is why every September 29 we observe World Heart Day, a reminder of the importance of habits that protect our cardiovascular health
We know that smoking, physical inactivity, and poor diet seriously damage the heart. Regular consumption of ultra-processed foods, saturated fats, and low-fiber diets increases the risk of serious complications such as heart attacks and strokes. By contrast, a diet centered on fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains strengthens heart health and improves quality of life.
Exercise is another essential pillar: at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic activity are recommended. In addition, tending to sleep hygiene, staying well hydrated, learning to manage stress, and cultivating meaningful relationships all contribute to a healthier heart.
From a spiritual perspective, the apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 6:19, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?” Caring for the body is a way of honoring God—and that includes adopting habits that preserve life. It is no coincidence that, in Eden, God provided Adam and Eve with a diet rich in fiber, fruits, and vegetables—the foundation of nutrition that strengthens health
Our heart works without rest every second to keep us alive. Neglecting it means reducing our functional capacity, shortening our life expectancy, and missing the opportunity to live fully. On this World Heart Day (September 29), reflect on the importance of this organ and make changes that will truly improve your health
Remember the words of Proverbs 4:23: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
Yerik Macías is a physician and faculty member in the Department of Research Support in Health Sciences at the School of Medicine, Montemorelos University.