Hyderabad: World Heart Day Marked With Walks, Fitness Challenges

Hyderabad: Awareness walks, fitness challenges and creative public campaigns were held across Hyderabad on Tuesday to mark World Heart Day, with doctors, police officials, public representatives and community members calling for greater physical activity, healthier lifestyles and timely attention to cardiovascular risk factors.

At Nanakramguda Circle, Star Hospitals, with the support of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority, organised a creative “Heart Dharna” campaign.

Life‑sized heart cut‑outs were placed at the busy junction, holding placards and symbolically staging a protest demanding greater attention to cardiovascular health.

Messages highlighted 30 minutes of daily physical activity, reduced salt intake, regular blood pressure monitoring, avoiding smoking, managing stress, adequate sleep and learning CPR.

Fitness activities were organised at several locations, drawing participation from children, youngsters, professionals, homemakers and senior citizens.

Participants took part in one‑minute challenges involving treadmill running, stationary cycling, skipping, push‑ups and other exercises.

TPCC president Bomma Mahesh Kumar Goud and Hyderabad City Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar joined the “1 Minute Heart Challenge” and extended support to the initiative.

Dr Pavan Gorukanti said modern lifestyles had contributed to increasing physical inactivity, but improving health did not always require major changes.

Even short periods of meaningful activity, when incorporated consistently into daily routines, could contribute to better health, he said.

Teams of cardiologists, doctors, physiotherapists, nurses and emergency medical personnel monitored the activities.

Participants who recorded the highest calories burned per minute across age groups, genders and exercise categories were recognised.

Awareness walks were also held at different locations. A three‑kilometre walk was conducted from Bapu Ghat to Dargah, with doctors, nurses and paramedical staff carrying placards on heart disease prevention, healthy lifestyle practices and the importance of regular check‑ups.

Red balloons were released as part of the programme.

Other walks were held in Hitec City, Malakpet and Musheerabad, including a two‑kilometre walk and another from Musheerabad to Gandhi Hospital and back.

Dr Mohammed Shoeb Ahmed, consultant interventional cardiologist, cautioned against tobacco use and excessive alcohol consumption and stressed the need to regularly monitor conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

Regular physical activity, a healthy diet and lifestyle measures could help reduce cardiovascular risk, he said.

Dr Gulla Surya Prakash said heart disease could develop silently over several years and factors including diet, physical activity, smoking, blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels influenced heart health.

He urged people not to wait for chest pain or other warning signs before taking preventive measures.

Doctors also encouraged short walking breaks after prolonged sitting, use of stairs instead of lifts, and remaining physically active through the day.

Some programmes included CPR awareness to help the public respond during cardiac emergencies.

Dr M.R.M. Babu, senior consultant cardiologist, said cardiovascular risk should not be assessed solely on age or physical appearance.

“Our hospital recorded 2,287 cardiac procedures over the past year, of which 175 were performed in patients below 40 years.

In the last month alone, 18 procedures were performed in patients below 40, highlighting the importance of recognising cardiovascular risk and seeking timely medical evaluation even among younger individuals,” he said.

Patients also noted that treatment costs — from basic scans to stent procedures — now exceed ₹3 lakh at the initial stage, posing a huge burden on those without health insurance. Hospitals, they said, must find ways to reduce costs.