New Delhi: Apollo Hospitals, Asia’s largest healthcare group, announced the Apollo Heart Challenge on the occasion of World Heart Day (September 29). The hospital major has invoked people of India to walk 10, 000 steps a day for a month to keep their hearts health.
By downloading the AskApollo app from Google Play store or the Apple app store, anyone can participate in the challenge of completing 10,000 steps per day. The Apollo Heart Challenge is part of the Apollo Healthy Heart Program, a unique personalized Cardiac Health Management Program that helps to prevent the onset of heart disease and empowers individuals to better manage their heart condition.
World Heart Day is observed every year on the 29th of September to create awareness of heart disease and encourage people to become more conscious of their heart health. This year, World Heart Day calls for looking after one’s hearts and the hearts of loved ones. This has inspired Apollo Hospitals to launch the Apollo Heart Challenge with a call to walk to good heart health with at least 10,000 steps per day for a month. The Apollo Heart Challenge will run from September 29, 2018, to October 28, 2018, and everyone who completes the challenge successfully will get a 25% discount on the Healthy Heart Program packages.
Sharing his thoughts on the occasion, Dr. Prathap C. Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals said, “The country is facing a severe threat from NCDs which threaten to affect the population’s health profile and productivity. We can improve the heart health with a few easy steps such as changes in diet, regular exercises and frequent health checks to monitor progress. Through the Apollo Heart Challenge, Apollo Hospitals wants to promote a behavioral change in Indians and get them to incorporate moderate physical activity in their daily routine. Over time, this will lead to a Healthy India with a Healthy Heart!”
Ms. Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals, said, “India is facing an unprecedented burden of heart disease compared to the rest of the world. Lifestyle plays a big role in the development of cardiac disease. The AskApollo app complements the Healthy Heart Program and works to prevent heart disease through a comprehensive approach to heart health. The Healthy Heart program is tailored to stop heart disease in its tracks!”
Dr. K Hariprasad, President, Apollo Hospitals Division added, “A person who walks 10,000 steps a day will have a bigger stroke volume, that is, the amount of blood the heart pumps per beat, as compared with someone who walks just 1,000 steps a day. A larger stroke volume is a sign of greater aerobic capacity. The mobile application based Apollo Heart Challenge will also help the participants take ownership of their heart health by identifying warning signs, understanding facts and guarding against myths of heart health. The app contains information about the challenge as well as supportive material on cardiovascular disease, with health advisories and daily tips and tricks to manage heart health.”
Having touched 3 million hearts, the Apollo Healthy Heart Program is India’s first Heart Disease Prevention and Reversal program. Participating in the Apollo Heart Challenge and continuing with it after the first month will help participants gain better aerobic capacity and increased heart function over a period. The Apollo Healthy Heart Program is an evidence-based scientific program that helps to identify the risks and equips every individual to lead a healthy lifestyle. To know more or to enroll, visit www.actbeforetheattack.com.
