May 31st is World No Tobacco Day- Yet another day in the Calendar year that will pass by with many taking sincere pledges, but no action follows. But this year, Billion Hearts Beating (BHB), a not-for-profit Foundation by Apollo Hospitals, is taking a step forward by moving from Creating Awareness to Inducing Action. Through its campaign titled “Man vs. Cigarette”, Billion Hearts Beating will aim at giving millions of people around the world who want to quit, a real insight into what it takes to kick the habit for good.
India is considered the Heart Disease Capital of the World- a noteworthy Title for a nation that houses a billion hearts, but, definitely not an achievement. While rest of the world enters the heart attack zone at the age of 55 years, Indians enter at the age of 35 years. In fact, 25 percent of the afflicted are below the age of 40 years, a clear indication that heart diseases are more lifestyle related than an outcome of aging.
Smoking accounts for one-tenth of cardiovascular diseases worldwide. 70 percent of smokers today are at high risk of getting heart attack. However, awareness of links between smoking and heart diseases remain very low in many parts of the world.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Prathap C Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “The ill effects of tobacco are well known the world over. Our health is on our hands, and one must not only ensure that we as individuals shun tobacco in all its forms but also urge friends, colleagues and family members to do so. The fight against tobacco is as much at an individual’s level as it is at the community level. We understand how difficult it can be for individuals to quit smoking. In order to assist the willing quitter, an innovative campaign, titled Man vs. Cigarette, has been launched by BHB to mark the World No-Tobacco Day. We must remember that quitting smoking is probably the only time when quitting is actually winning. So winning is in quitting and throwing the death stick away!"
It is never too late to quit the life threatening habit and undo the damage smoking causes to your body. Within 20 minutes of quitting smoking, your blood pressure and pulse rate turn to normal. Within 8 hours, your blood oxygen levels increase and within 24 hours carbon monoxide is eliminated from the body and lungs thus decreasing your chances of suffering from a heart attack within the first day of quitting smoking.
Speaking about the benefits of quitting smoking, Ms. Shobana Kamineni, Executive Director – New Initiatives, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited, “Quit smoking is one of the ‘Simple 5 Solutions’ for a healthy heart, which has always been underlined by the BHB programme. BHB believes in taking this message directly to the youth. For, a young person is the ideal receptacle to absorb, understand and share the message of the harmful effects of smoking. Also, it is far too wasteful for young lives to be shackled by tobacco addiction.”
With continuing support from the government, public, activists and healthcare providers, Billion Heart Beating is looking forward to helping Sandeep and countless Indians like him beat their inner demons and encouraging smokers to kick the Butt!
About Billion Hearts Beating:
Billion Hearts Beating Foundation is a not-for-profit organization and came into existence on 28th April’ 2010 with an objective to work mainly for promotion, awareness and prevention of heart disease and its contributing risk factors in India. It also propagates education and learning for needy and for the welfare of the community at large without any discrimination.
The Chairman of Apollo Group of Hospitals, Dr. Prathap C Reddy initiated this campaign, as he felt the dire need for Indians to be made aware of the cardiovascular risk that they face today. The BHB campaign is an ongoing initiative of the Apollo Hospitals to make the country pledge for having a healthier heart.