Hyderabad, 29th September, 2015: On the occasion of World Heart Day – 29th September, Sr. Cardiologists at Apollo Hospitals including Dr P.C. Rath, Dr. Shiv Kumar, Dr. Manoj Agarwal, Dr Surya Prakash Rao, Dr. P.K. Dhar led by Dr Hari Prasad, CEO – Central, Apollo Hospitals, commemorated the day by releasing balloons representing “Freedom From Heart Disease” at the iconic Buddha Statue at Hussain Sagar. The symbolic release of balloons was done to create awareness about heart diseases and preventive measures.

Apollo Hospitals also launched few novel initiatives to reach out to the people and raise awareness on heart ailments:

• Any person suspecting of chest pain walking into any Apollo Hospitals will be offered free ECG and review by a consultant, for the next sixty days. Apollo Hospitals with its network of four centers in the city offers state-of-the-art cardiac care. The hospital has four Cath labs and expertise of 56 eminent cardiologist to fall back on.
• Apollo Heart Check if undergone by an Individual, will be extended an additional free Apollo Heart Check to one of his immediate family member.

Speaking on the occasion Dr Hari Prasad said the rapid lifestyle changes, eating habits, lack of physical activity, pollution and stress have impacted our health and heart disease is gaining serious proportions. Incidence of heart disease has acquired epidemic dimensions, with alarming number of Indians succumbing to the disease. Youth falling victims to this disease at a ripe age is a matter of grave concern, he said.

Dr. P.C. Rath, Senior Cardiologist, Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, 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’s the younger lot with heart ailments are being brought to the hospital by their elderly, that too in big numbers. It’s time we banish this disease from our midst by adopting to healthy living, he said.