City colleges and hospitals have roped in celebrities to promote the cause of a healthy heart.
Several events including walkathons and seminars have been planned to commemorate World Heart Day on Saturday. In continuation with last year’s focus on home and healthy heart, the World Heart Federation has dedicated 2012 to preventing cardiovascular diseases among women and children.
The theme One World, One Home, One Heart, will continue this year too, according to information on the Federation’s website. World over, 17.3 million people die of cardiovascular diseases, the Federation’s website says. Cardiovascular diseases include heart attacks and stroke due to unhealthy lifestyle.
Lack of exercise, smoking and eating junk food are the major lifestyle patterns that result in cardiovascular diseases. In the past, it was thought that women and children were not susceptible to such ailments. But the Federation had to review its stand after it found one in three deaths in women was due to cardiovascular diseases.
Further, children too are at risk as, worldwide, one in 10 school children is overweight. Also, every year, 10 lakh babies are born with congenital heart problems.
In an effort to garner a favourable response from the public, organisations have sought the participation of film stars for promotional events on the occasion of World Heart Day. Actor Trisha will inaugurate the heart and lung institute at Global Health City while actors Sarath Kumar and Radhika will flag off a walkathon at Mohamed Sathak College.
K.M. Cherian’s Heart Foundation has invited US consul general Jennifer McIntyre while Madras Medical Mission Hospital in Mogappair has organised an inter-school quiz contest. Ajuba Solutions, an IT company, will conduct a walkathon on Marina Beach.
Madras Medical College, to which the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital is attached, has organised a public interactive session with cardiologists.
Actor Vivek is expected to take part in the programme.
