Daijiworld News Network – Udupi/Manipal (VM)

Udupi, Sep 15: Kasturba Hospital will organise a national-level “World Heart Day Walkathon” of 25,000 people.  The event which will be held on Sep 24 will begin from MGM College, Kunjibettu to Kasturba Hospital OPD, Manipal.

The organisers have announced that free T Shirts will be issued to the participants and refreshments and light breakfast will also be arranged at Kasturba Hospital OPD.

Heart disease and stroke is the world’s killer, claiming 17.5 million lives a year. Eighty per cent of these lives are from population in low and middle income countries, many amongst those are people of working age. Controlling major risk factors such as an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and tobacco use can prevent heart attacks and stoke and help the heart to age more slowly. A calorie restricted, nutritionally balanced diet has been associated with slowing the ageing process of the heart- which is why this year’s World Heart Day campaign asks: “How Young is Your Heart?”

According to Dr Padma Kumar, Interventional Cardiologist, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, it is almost an obsession in many societies to look as youthful as possible, but we should really be thinking about the age of our hearts.

“If we put as much efforts into keeping our hearts young, we would see a dramatic decrease in the number of premature deaths from heart disease and stroke each year,” Dr Kumar adds.
Physical activity is vitally important. Running for one hour or more each week could reduce the risk of heart disease by 42 per cent. Brisk walking just 30 minutes each day could reduce the risk of heart disease by 18 per cent and stoke by about 11 per cent. Commuting to work by foot is a practical way of achieving this level of physical activity, Dr Kumar states.

Physical inactivity, says Dr Arun Kusugal, Head of the Department of Cardiology, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, contributes significantly to the heart’s ageing as it leads to obesity, diabetes and hypertension. The heart is a muscle, which needs regular activities to keep it pumping blood efficiently with every heart beat.