400 Gurugram Residents and Doctors from Manipal Hospital Walks for Heart Health

Gurugram, September 30, 2023: Encouraging people and motivating them to take care of their hearts, Manipal Hospital, Gurugram on the occasion of World Heart Day, organised a walkathon as part of its initiative, ‘Guardians of the Heart’. The 4 km walkathon was flagged off by Dr. Pankaj Mittal - Hospital Director, (Col) Dr. Monik Mehta - Head of Department and Consultant, and Dr. Manmohan Singh Chauhan, Consultant and Head - CTVS, and Cardiology Team, Gurugram.

The walk began at 6:30 AM, starting and culminating at Manipal Hospital, Gurugram. More than 400 residents of Palam Vihar and doctors of Manipal Hospital participated in this walkathon along with the chief guest, Dr. Virender Yadav, Chief Medical Office (Gurugram), and guest of honor, Priyanshu Diwan HSP, ACP Traffic Police to raise awareness on the importance of heart health.

There has been a startling rise in heart health problems, including high cholesterol and hypertension, because of the lifestyle that is dominated by an unhealthy diet and sedentary lifestyle. Staying active can have a great impact on your heart health, and walking is one of the best activities that can help improve blood flow, strengthen the heart, and reduce risk factors for heart disease.

Addressing the participants, the chief guest, Dr. Virender Yadav, Civil Surgeon, Gurugram, said, “It's very important to prioritise our health and take special care of our heart. Making a few lifestyle changes, like going for a regular morning walk, eating well-balanced food, and maintaining a healthy weight, will improve our overall well-being and pave the way for a healthier heart. This walkathon organised by Manipal Hospital serves as a source of inspiration and motivation for individuals to act towards better heart health, reducing the burden of heart disease around us.” 

The guest of honor,  Priyanshu Dhawan, HPS, ACP, Traffic HQ, said, “Caring for our hearts is important, and walking is an excellent way to take care of them. Walking not only keeps us active but also has a positive impact on our well-being.”

According to data released by the World Heart Federation, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the main cause of death worldwide, having increased by 60% from 12.1 million in 1990 to 20.5 million in 2021. It is critical to raise awareness about this illness. Both the government and private healthcare providers have to come together to address this issue.