MSPS from across the political spectrum were seen wearing different coloured heart badges on their lapels during FMQs at Holyrood on Wednesday.
Labour leader Anas Sarwar sported a yellow heart pin while he questioned First Minister Nicola Sturgeon – who was herself wearing a pink pin.
Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross had an orange one of his own.
Why were the political leaders wearing heart-shaped badges at FMQs?
September 29 is World Heart Day. Created by the World Heart Federation, the day is aimed at spreading awareness of the fact that Cardiovascular disease (CVD) – including heart disease and stroke – is the world’s leading cause of death.
The World Heart Federation says that CVD claims 18.6 million lives around the world each year.
The World Heart Day website says it aims “to drive action to educate people that by controlling risk factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, at least 80% of premature deaths from heart disease and stroke could be avoided”.
🎉🎉 Happy #WorldHeartDay! 🎉🎉 Today, we're asking you to #UseHeart: For humanity 🧡💛💚💙💜 For nature 💚 For you ❤️ Visit https://t.co/GjHe0Ki7bC and join us 🥳👏 pic.twitter.com/k3PMgUsCep
— World Heart Federation (@worldheartfed) September 29, 2022
The federation is urging people to “use heart” for humanity and for nature.
Explaining the day’s 2022 slogan, the World Heart Federation said: “Use Heart means to think differently. To make the right decisions. To act with courage. To help others. To engage with this important cause. The heart is the only organ you can hear and feel. It is the first and last sign of life. It is one of the few things with the potential to unite all of us as people."
You can find out more on the World Heart Day website.
What about in Scotland specifically?
In Scotland, World Heart Day has been given a focus on women suffering from heart disease.
"Heart disease is not just a man’s disease, women are dying needlessly every day. Heart disease is HER disease," Heart Disease UK said.
Tory MSP Miles Briggs hosted an event in Holyrood with the Heart of Scotland appeal board to raise awareness about how CVD can impact on women.
❤ #WorldHeartDay - #HeartofScotland appeal ❤ Today in Holyrood, @Miles4Lothian hosted an event with the Heart of Scotland appeal board and supporters to spread awareness of women's heart disease in Scotland 🏴 Heart disease is #HERdisease Read more:https://t.co/PDr9Biho7c pic.twitter.com/Q3ZLjxgWqd
— Heart Research UK (@heartresearchuk) September 29, 2022
MSPs were photographed holding heart-shaped boards with words including "love", "care", and "brave" to mark the day.
To find out more about things such as the "heart attack gender gap", visit: https://heartresearch.org.uk/her-disease/
