Chennai, September 27, 2026: To commemorate World Heart Day, SIMS Hospital organised a five-kilometre walkathon, SIMS Rhythm of Life, from its premises in Vadapalani. Dr. Raju Sivasamy, Vice-President of SIMS Hospital along with Dr. K. Jai Shankar, Senior Director & Senior Consultant, Cardiology and Dr. T S Srinath, Director & Senior Consultant, Cardiology flagged off the walkathon.
More than 500 people aged between 16 and 70 actively participated in the walkathon, which covered the entire stretch of Arcot Road.
World Heart Day is observed annually across the globe on September 29, with the aim of educating the general public about cardiovascular diseases, particularly the importance of recognising their signs and symptoms. This year, the theme of the day is ‘Heart diseases can hide in plain sight: Don’t miss a beat’.
According to the World Heart Federation, one in three people die from heart disease, while one in five people die prematurely from the condition. Over 50% of babies born with cardiovascular diseases remain undiagnosed at birth. Despite heart disease being the leading cause of death globally, fewer than 20 countries have a dedicated standalone plan to tackle the disease.
Cardiologists reiterate that most heart diseases are preventable and that 80% of cardiovascular deaths are caused by risk factors that can be managed or prevented if diagnosed early. People can improve their overall heart health through small, consistent lifestyle changes.
Through the walkathon, SIMS Hospital aims to create awareness about cardiovascular health and encourage people to follow healthier lifestyles by incorporating regular physical activity into their daily lives and taking proactive steps towards maintaining a healthy heart.
In his comments, Dr. Ravi Pachamuthu said, “At SIMS Hospital, we believe that creating awareness is an important first step towards prevention. Through SIMS Rhythm of Life, we wanted to raise awareness about cardiovascular diseases among the general public. Though these diseases can affect people across age groups, many of the associated risk factors can be addressed through healthier lifestyle choices and timely medical intervention. We hope this walkathon encourages people to stay active, understand their heart-health risks, and make regular preventive health checks a part of their lives.”
Dr. Raju Sivasamy said, “At SIMS Hospital, we believe that healthcare extends beyond treating illness to creating greater awareness about prevention and healthy living. ‘SIMS Rhythm of Life’ is an effort to bring people together around a simple but important message that caring for our hearts begins with the choices we make every day. We are delighted to see the community come together to celebrate World Heart Day with this spirit of health and wellbeing.”
Dr. K. Jai Shankar, said, “Heart health is not something we shouldn’t be ignoring until a problem arises. Regular physical activity, a balanced lifestyle and timely health check-ups are vital to protect the heart. Through this walkathon, we want to encourage people to make movement and preventive heart care a part of their everyday lives.”
Dr. T. S. Srinath, said, “Every step we take towards a healthier lifestyle is a step towards a healthier heart. The rising burden of cardiovascular risk factors makes awareness and early prevention increasingly important. We are happy to bring the community together through this walkathon and reinforce the message that small, consistent changes can make a meaningful difference to heart health.”
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