Abbott launches “Chakkar Ko Check Kar” campaign to raise vertigo awareness

A new survey reveals the impact of vertigo, aiming to improve early diagnosis and management for 70 million affected Indians

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New Delhi: Abbott has launched its “Chakkar Ko Check Kar” campaign in India to raise awareness about vertigo, a balance disorder that affects nearly 70 million people in the country. Through this initiative, Abbott aims to help people take control of their health and manage this condition more effectively.
The campaign kicked off with a digital film featuring Bollywood actor and UNICEF India Ambassador Ayushmann Khurrana. The film vividly portrays the disorienting reality of vertigo’s sudden spinning episodes, encouraging those experiencing similar symptoms to seek medical help. 
Khurrana shared, “Dealing with vertigo has been a challenge, but it taught me the power of resilience. Diagnosed in 2016, every sudden movement made the world spin around me. Amidst demanding film schedules, the constant fear of an impending dizzy spell was daunting. However, finding the right medication and embracing meditation helped me manage my condition completely. While it can feel like a tough condition to manage it’s crucial to remember that it’s a battle you can win.”
Dr. Jejoe Karankumar, Medical Director, Abbott India, highlighted, “Around 70 million Indians experience vertigo. While this balance disorder can affect people’s quality of life, it can be managed. Abbott aims to simplify the journey of people living with vertigo by raising awareness and empowering them with knowledge and tools that can help recognize signs of the condition, get timely medical advice and support and live fulfilling lives.”
An integral part of the campaign is a survey conducted by Abbott in collaboration with IQVIA. This survey was conducted across Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, and Kolkata, including insights from 1,250 respondents comprising vertigo patients, caregivers, and people with family members experiencing dizziness who have not yet been diagnosed.
The survey revealed the profound impact of vertigo on personal and family life. 34% of respondents cancel important events, 33% experience frequent anger or annoyance, and 26% fear damage to their relationships with family members. The leading triggers of vertigo are anxiety or stress (39%), travelling (34%), and changes in weather (30%). Each vertigo episode can bring a range of symptoms, including headaches (52%), double vision (43%), a blackout feeling (40%), heaviness in the head (37%), and neck pain (28%). Vertigo also affects patients’ abilities to look after their families (23%) and reduces family quality time (23%). Additionally, it creates discomfort when using public transport or air travel (19%). 
Despite these effects, only 48% of people reporting dizziness get tested for symptoms. On average, vertigo is diagnosed at 38 years of age, with about one-fourth of patients experiencing an attack once a month. Several myths persist around vertigo, with 21% of patients believing the condition only affects the elderly, and 15% thinking it is untreatable and contagious. Only half of vertigo patients take medication, despite the far-reaching impact on their personal lives, such as avoiding travel in vehicles(34%) and reducing screen time(30%) to minimize the likelihood of a vertigo episode.
The survey also uncovered interesting findings specific to Mumbai. For example, vertigo significantly impacts patients’ professional lives in the region, including affecting concentration, resulting in lower performance(20%), impacting the ability to take on more responsibility(28%), and hindering career progression(16%). Additionally, vertigo affects personal lives in the city, with 36% of respondents cancelling important events and 28% frequently getting angry or annoyed.
As part of this awareness initiative, Abbott has also introduced an online assessment tool. This chatbot-based survey helps people identify vertigo symptoms and supports early detection. The survey is available in seven languages: English, Hindi, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Bengali.