The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Running for a healthy heart

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 01, 2006

Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

Running for a healthy heart

Peter Dulvy and his friends on Wednesday ran along the lanes of Fort Kochi for a cause - to create awareness about heart ailments caused by lack of proper exercise.

The short marathon, just over a mile long, between Brunton Boatyard and St. Francis Church, was called `The run for the life.'

Run across the State

Mr. Dulvy and his two friends, Rahul Noble Singh and Desmond Roberts, under the banner of `Heels on Fire,' have covered 600 km across the State in less than a month to spread awareness about the problem.

During their visit to Kochi as part of the run, these U.K.-based runners got in contact with the Heart Care Foundation and planned a run for public awareness.

The cgh earth experience hotels also joined the venture.

The run was flagged off at the Brunton Boatyard by City Police Commissioner P. Vijayan. Actor Suresh Gopi also joined in the run, which had around 60 participants.

"It has been pointed out that 7.5 per cent of the urban population suffers from heart ailments, whereas the figure is 4.2 among the rural population," says Jose Chacko Periyappuram, chairman, Heart Care Foundation.

Causes for ailments

Factors such as increased stress, laidback lifestyle, food pattern and unhealthy practices like smoking contribute to this trend, says Dr. Jose.

"Only two to three per cent of the urban population does any kind of exercise. This is happening when studies by the World Health Organisation point out that there is 10 per cent more chance of one getting cardiac diseases due to lack of proper exercises," he says.

The foundation has other plans too.

It plans to organise 1,000 cardiac surgeries for financially backward people across the State.

ANAND HARIDAS

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