For healthy heart, doctors join walkathon to mark World Heart Day

HYDERABAD: Doctors from city based hospitals turned up in large numbers at walkathons to mark world heart day for the cause of ‘healthy heart’ at different places on Thursday.
While Continental Hospitals chose the historic Charminar to flag off a 100 metre awareness walk by cardiologists besides volunteers from Sakina Foundation, students from schools and colleges, another walkathon event at Necklace Road saw Dr Sridhar Kasturi, president of Telangana chapter of Cardiological Society of India taking the lead.
“Most of the young professionals have odd working shifts and depend on fast food that is easily available. On top of it, indulging in smoking and drinking to ‘reduce the stress’ worsens the situation,” said Dr. Bharat V Purohit, Consultant Cardiologist & Chief of Cath Lab, Continental Hospitals
Besides cardiologists and CT surgeons, both events at Necklace road and Charminar had top police officials incluing M Mahender Reddy, Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad, V Satyanarayana, DCP - South Zone and A. Venkateshwar Rao, DCP - West Zone turning up for the walkathon.
In his address, Dr.Sridhar Kasturi, president CSI, Telangana and Senior Interventional Cardiologist at Sunshine Heart Institute said it saddens him to see younger people with heart ailments being brought to the hospital by their elderly relatives these days.
Joining him, M. Mahendar Reddy, Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad, singled out rapid lifestyle changes, eating habits, lack of physical activity, pollution and stress for increasing the burden of heart diseases, while V Satyanarayana, DCP - South Zone called for a comprehensive approach to combat heart disease.
“For this, both the public and the private sectors have to work together,” he said.
However, Dr Avinash Dal, Chief of Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery, Continental Hospitals, suggested small changes one can make in daily life to protect the heart without letting the problem get aggravated at all.
“One can start with small adjustments like opting for healthier oils, ensuring 7 hours of sleep and consciously staying calm in stressful situations. Incorporate a physical activity like climbing stairs and walking for 30 minutes every day. Staying away from tobacco, unhealthy diet and including physical activity can prevent almost 80% of premature deaths from heart disease.”
The healthy heart awareness walk event led by CSI also had experts from other hospitals including Dr.Y.V.Subba Reddy, Organising Secretaty, CSI, Telangana , HOD Cardiology, Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad, Dr Ganesh Mathan from Sunshine Heart Institute, Dr.Ramesh G from Yashoda Hospitals, Dr.Rama Kumari from NIMS, Dr.Prakash Ajmera from Mallareddy Narayana Hospital, Dr.Sridhar Reddy Peddi from Apollo Hospital.