Private: Apollo Healthy Heart Challenge

Organises ‘Healthy Heart Walk’ to commemorate ‘World Heart Day’

Hyderabad, 29th September, 2014: September 29th is commemorated as the World Heart Day globally. This is to create awareness about heart diseases and preventive measures. Incidence of heart disease has acquired epidemic proportions. The number of Indians succumbing to heart diseases is alarming.

On the occasion of World Heart Day, Apollo Hospitals launched a novel program called the ‘Healthy Heart Challenge‘. As a part of this program we are encouraging individuals to undergo health checks and for those with features of heart diseases we are suggesting life style modifications and appropriate management methods. On the other hand if we certify an individual heart healthy, and if this individual suffers from a heart attack during the year, Apollo Hospitals will treat him free.

This unique program is being introduced to increase awareness about heart diseases and to educate the community that heart diseases are preventable. Mr. Kishan Reddy, MLA & State President – BJP, launched ‘Healthy Heart Challenge‘ on Monday at Apollo Hospitals, Hyderguda. He later flagged off a Healthy Heart walk from Apollo Hospitals, Hyderguda to Basheerbagh flyover on the occasion of ‘World Heart Day.’ Also present on the occasion were Dr. Surya Prakash Rao, HoD, Cardiology, Apollo Hospitals, Hyderguda; Dr Hari Prasad, CEO (Central Region), Apollo Hospitals; Dr PLN Kaparthy, Director, Cathlab and Dr Venkat Reddy, Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Apollo Hospitals, Hyderguda.

Speaking on the occasion Sri Kishan Reddy said the rapid lifestyle changes, eating habits, lack of physical activity, pollution and stress have impacted our health and heart disease is gaining epidemic proportions. Youth falling victims to this disease at the ripe age is a matter of grave concern. Doctors create awareness about this disease and how to prevent it. Hospitals like Apollo have been dispensing information to create awareness about this dreaded disease and one can see a ripple of change with a section of the people going in for regular exercises and modifying their food habits to suit their lifestyle. However more effort is needed to make the entire community aware of this disease.

Sri Kishan Reddy said, Its heartwarming to see patients from several countries opting for Hyderabad and Apollo in specific to get treated. The expertise of the Indian Doctor is now being acknowledged. Hospitals like Apollo have won the confidence of patients from abroad and more and more patients are willing to place their trust in Indian hospitals. Hyderabad has the best medical infrastructure and taking inspiration from Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji’s recently enunciated policy of ‘Make In India’, we should all strive to build the brand Hyderabad and make this city the healthcare destination of the world, every patient from anywhere in the world, should look at Hyderabad as the option, he said.

Earlier welcoming Shri Kishan Reddy, Dr. Surya Prakash Rao, Head, Department of Cardiology, Apollo Hospitals, Hyderguda, said 80% of premature deaths from heart disease could be avoided if risk factors like unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and tobacco usage could be controlled. He said, its sad that in two decades time the cardiac patient profile has changed for worse, earlier the aged with heart disease were brought to doctors by their younger relatives, today it the younger lot with heart ailments are being brought to the hospital by their elderly, that in big numbers. It’s time we banish this disease from our midst by adopting to healthy living, he said.