Apollo Specialty Hospitals, Vanagaram , hosted Pedal4Balance Cycle Rally
In Puducherry to promote Awareness on Vertigo and Balance Disorder
Puducherry, December 9, 2024: Apollo Specialty Hospitals, Vanagaram, hoste d the “Pedal4Balance” a 150Km Cycle r ally from Puducherry to Vanagaram, C hennai today, an impactful awareness initiative addressing vertigo and balan ce disorders. The Cycle Rally was flagg ged off by Dr. Rahul Raghavan Menon, CEO & DMS Cluster 2, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai alongside Dr. C. Sylendra Bab u, IPS (Rtd.), Ex DGP Tamil Nadu, Prof. Dr. Michael Strupp, Senior Physician at the Neurological Clinic, Ludwig -M aximilians – University Munich, and R Karthik, Executive Vice President, Co rporate Affairs, The Sanmar Group.
A team of doctors from across multip le countries took part in the 150Km cy cle rally to create awareness on vertig o & balance disorder. Dr. Sylendra Bab u, IPS , Ex Director General of Police, T amil Nadu, Prof. Dr. Michael Strupp, M D, Professor of Neurology & Clinical N europhysiology, Munich, Germany, Dr. Dan Dupont Hougaard, Head of Audio vestibular Dept, ENT Specialist, Aalbo rg University, Denmark, Dr. Vishal Pa war, Sepcialist Neurologist, Prime Hea lthcare, Dubai, UAE, Dr. Prabash Prab hakaran, HOD & Senior Consultant, Ne urology, Apollo Specialty Hospitals, Va nagaram, Commander Dr. Karthik Ma desh R, HOD & Senior Consultant, E N T, Apollo Specialty Hospitals, Vanagara m, Dr. Sathishkumar Venkatasamy, HO D & Senior Consultant Neurology, Apo llo Speciality Hospitals, OMR, Chennna i, Dr. Venkata Karthikeyan, Senior Con sultant ENT Head & Neck Skullbase Su rgery, Apollo Hospitals, Dr. Dheeraj Re ddy P , Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surg eon, Apollo Hospitals, Dr. Arulalan, Co nsultant, Neuro-otology & Skullbase su rgery, THANC Hospital, Dr. Aravind , C onsultant Cardiology, Apollo Speciality Hospitals Vanagaram, Dr. J Sampath, R t. Registrar Pondicherry Central Unive rsity, actively participated in the 150k m, cycle rally starting from the Mahat ma Gandhi Statue, Beach Road and con cluded at Apollo Speciality Hospitals, Vanagaram, Chennai.
Vertigo and balance disorders are incr easingly common, with Tamil Nadu wit nessing a rise in cases due to lifestyle c hanges, aging populations, and undiag nosed conditions. Such disorders signi ficantly impact the quality of life, caus ing dizziness, falls, and other debilitati ng symptoms. Lack of awareness often leads to delayed diagnosis, making ca o99mpaigns like Pedal4Balance crucial for educating the public and encouragi n aging timely medical intervention.
Dr. Sylendra Babu, IPS, Former Directo r General of Police, Tamil Nadu, said, Awareness and early intervention for vertigo and balance disorders can tran sform lives. This initiative by Apollo S peciality Hospitals, Vanagaram showca ses the importance of collective action in promoting health education and co mmunity well-being. Cycling is not just a test of physical endurance but also a testament to mental resilience. This ev ent underscores the importance of mai ntaining balance in both our physical health and mental well-being. It is hea rtening to see communities come toge ther for such a meaningful cause.”
Globally, vertigo affects approxim atel ely 15-20% of adults annually, with wo men being more susceptible than men. In Tamil Nadu, the rising elderly pop ulation and urban lifestyle factors con ribute significantly to the prevalence of balance disorders. Vertigo is partic ularly common among individuals age d aged 55 and older, with symptoms li ke dizziness and imbalance being lead ing reasons for hospital visits among this demographic.
Speaking during the cycle rally, Dr. Pra bash Prabhakaran, HOD & Senior Cons ultant, Neurology, Apollo Specialty Ho spitals, Vanagaram, stated, Over 90% of all hip fractures are related to falls, balance disorders often go undiagnos ed because the symptoms are dismisse d as minor or temporary. Through init iati oves like ‘Pedal4Balance,’ we aim to educate the public about the impor tance of seeking expert advice early, ensuring timely interventions that can prevent complications and restore nor malcy to patients’ lives.
Every 35 minutes a senior citizen dies following a fall. One-third of elderly s uffer a fall at least once a year. In Indi dia, advanced diagnostic tools like vid eo head impulse tests (VHIT), vestibul ar evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP ), and dynamic post urography are tra nsforming the early detection of vert igo and balance disorders. These techn iques help identify underlying causes, ensuring targeted treatments and bett er outcomes. Apollo Specialty Hospita als has integrated these cutting-edge diagnostics with expert care, offering hope to patients with such conditions. The aim is to complete 40,075km (eart hís circumference) over next one year combined as vertigo is a sensation of w orld spinning around added Dr. Praba sh.
Speaking during the event Dr. Rahul R aghavan Menon, CEO & DMS Cluster 2, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai said, Vertigo and balance disorders often affect eve ryday life, but with early detection and proper care, they can be managed effe ctively thus reducing healthcare burd en. This initiative not only promotes a wareness about balance disorders but also reflects our mission to empower communities through preventive care and holistic health initiatives.
Vertigo and imbalance are treatable pr oblems – if identified correctly and tre ated on time. Vestibular imbalances ne ed to be taken seriously because falls can be fatal and injuries can be pain fu l, leads to long hospital stays, restr icte d mobility and result in significant loss in quality of life. People (Especially El derly) do not need to live in fear or fa lling. These issues are not a normal p art oir aging, and it’s imperative to spr ead the word, that treatment is availa ble.
A significant percentage of vertigo pati ents require multiple healthcare cons ultations annually, with co-morbid con ditions like anxiety increasing the freq uency of visits. Hospitalizations for se vere vertigo cases are common, with a pproximately 10% of vestibular vertig go patients needing inpatient care dur ing their lifetime.
Dr. Karthik Madesh R, HOD & Senior Consultant, ENT, Apollo Specialty Hos pitals, Vanagaram, said, Vertigo is mor e than just dizzinessits a condition tha t can limit independence and mobility. Early detection and treatment are vit al for managing its effects. Cycling, as promoted through this initiative, is a practical way to support vestibular he alth and prevent complications, empo wering individuals to take charge of t heir well-being.
Through “Pedal4Balance,” Apollo Spec ialty Hospitals continues to empower communities with the knowledge to p rioritize balance health, reinforcing t he message that early detection can sa ve lives and improve outcomes.