This World Heart Day, SBI General, one of India’s leading General Insurance companies, underlines the importance of keeping your heart healthy and taking proactive steps to prevent cardiovascular diseases. The company launched the ‘Know your Heart Health’ initiative in association with Apollo 24|7. This survey helped the respondents to know and understand the impact of their lifestyle choices on their heart health through a series of related questions, which was summarized as a ‘heart health score’, in the end.
The key findings are:
1. 6 per cent of the respondents are in the range of high-risk to heart health and around 32 per cent fall in the moderate risk range.
2. The high-risk range has maximum respondents in the age group of 36 to 45 years which comprises 32 per cent of the total respondents in this range. While the low to no risk range of heart health majorly comprises of respondents in the age group of 26 to 35 years which stands at 33 per cent.
3. Around 67 per cent of respondents with co-morbidity, and diabetes fall under the risk range of high to moderate risk to their heart health. This includes a considerable number of people in the age group of 25 to 45 years.
4. 55 per cent of respondents with the co-morbidity, high blood pressure fall in the high-risk category of heart health, largely belonging to the age group of 36 to 45 years.
5. Around 60 per cent of respondents with no or very little exercise (less than 30 minutes a week) have shown high or moderate risk to their heart health.
The World Heart Federation (WHF) celebrates World Heart Day annually on September 29 to instill awareness about the life-threatening effects of cardiovascular ailments. It also aims to educate people on ways to prevent cardiovascular diseases. Cardiac ailments have been on the rise in India and several factors such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, genetics and even choices such as smoking and a diet high in saturated fat increase the risk of heart diseases.
This World Heart Day, SBI General urges people to understand how they can mitigate the health and fiscal risks associated with heart diseases. The Company has unveiled a digital film which emphasises on small, yet significant choices that may impact our heart health. It also highlights impactful data on heart diseases in India and urges the audience to adopt a healthier lifestyle.
Throughout the week, SBI General has also engaged its social media followers through insightful content and tips on keeping their heart healthy. The Company has highlighted the importance of opting for an adequate health insurance policy to manage the high cost of treatment and hospitalization for heart diseases. Through the campaign, the Company aims to engage people across the country, age groups and via all platforms.
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Commenting on the initiative around World Heart Day, Shri Anand Pejawar, Deputy Managing Director, SBI General Insurance said, “With the increasing instances of heart diseases, especially amongst younger people, it is important for us to take proactive steps and maintain a healthy lifestyle. One should also opt for a comprehensive health insurance policy with critical illness benefit (Riders) that covers and safeguards you and your loved ones from any unexpected heart related medical exigencies. It ensures that such unforeseen circumstances don’t drain you financially. Through our various efforts and initiatives in this direction, we aim to raise awareness and encourage people to make smarter health and financial choices.”
