About 4.6 million lakh patients with heart failure live in India. This condition impacts over 60 million people globally and it is estimated that one in five people above 40 years of age will develop this in their lifetime.
A global initiative
These statistics were given out by experts here on Saturday at the launch of the third chapter of ‘Keep it Pumping’, a campaign by pharma major Novartis to increase awareness on heart failure among patients and care-givers, as part of a global initiative.
Senior interventional cardiologist, Apollo Hospitals, Sunil Kapoor, said the symptoms of a heart failure include shortness of breath, swollen ankles, weakness and fatigue.
“Heart failure is a progressive disease and hence it was critical to observe early signs or symptoms and seek expert examination, while heart attack is a sudden and unexpected event resulting from blockage in the arteries,” he explained.
Long-term commitment
Country president, Novartis India, Jawed Zia said that the campaign reinforced their long-term commitment towards this debilitating and potentially life-threatening condition and it would continue in the same spirit.
He invited people here to donate their virtual heartbeat that would be combined to create a unique ‘Beat of the Nation’ song.
Mobile app
Those interested can download the ‘Keep It Pumping’ mobile app from App Store and donate their heartbeat for a loved one, selecting their favourite song from the available list. People can also join the ‘Keep It Pumping’ social media communities on Facebook and Twitter to help raise awareness.
