HEALTH

Experts suggest regular monitoring of BP
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 23 — Hypertension, a common disease, is a silent killer in view of the complications it causes. In 90 per cent of the cases, the disease remains undiagnosed as patients have no such symptoms. The remaining 10 per cent report with symptoms of headache, dizziness and blurring of vision.

This was pointed out by Dr R. P. Sapru, former Professor of Department of Internal Medicine, PGI, Chandigarh, while delivering a talk on "Hypertension and old age'' organised by the Senior Citizens' Association at Sector 15 Lajpat Rai Bhavan today evening.

Dr Sanjay Jain, Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, PGI, emphasised the importance of treating hypertension, especially in senior citizens. He said though it is a common disease but people in the older age are more prone to it. If the systolic blood pressure is above 140 mm of Hg and the diastolic above 90, then a person needs to get the same checked regularly. He must maintain a diary of the readings and if three readings indicate high blood oressure then the person can be said to be hypertensive.

Dr Jain advised that people above the age of 65 years should go for a routine blood pressure check-up, at least once in three months, and then monitor it regularly.

Dr Sapru stated that blood pressure if not controlled, increases the scope of paralytic strokes, renal failure and may affect the blood vessels, heart, brain, kidneys and eyes. He discussed in details various ways of management of hypertension, including medications and life-style modifications. Persons suffering from the disease should give up smoking, reduce weight, walk regularly, take less salt and reduce the intake of alcohol. They should take fibre-rich diet. Those suffering from diabetes, heart and kidney problems need to be extra careful. Doctors generally maintain that "blood pressure is a lovable disease provided you take the medicines. regularly,'' Dr Sapru said adding that medicines cannot prevent the disease, these only help bring down the blood pressure and avoid the complications.

Dr G.S Kochhar, president of the local branch of Indian Medical Association (IMA), revealed that nearly 20 per cent of the patients above the age of 60 years who came for surgery were found to be hypertension during the routine check-up and investigations.

The talk was organised by the IMA under the aegis of the Servants of People Society. Later, an interaction was held in which the doctors answered the queries of the public. 

If your kid is on drugs, seek professional help
By Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 23 — Synthetic drug abuse is on the rise in the city. The trend is becoming increasingly visible in school and college-going students. According to reports, the observed increase, especially in codeine containing cough syrup, during the past decade has been as much as eight-fold.

An important fact here is unavailability of any clear-cut data on synthetic drug abusers amongst teenagers and students. The main reason is that the clinic-attending population is by no means indicative of the general trends prevailing in the society.

According to Dr Debashish Basu, Associate Professor in the Drug Deaddiction and Training Center, Department of Psychiatry, PGI, de-addiction centres generally get hard addicts. “The general population is very different from the clinic attending patients. The patients that we get in de-addiction centres are mostly those addicted with smack and injections.”

The most common drugs making rounds of the city still happen to be the three products of the plant cannabis sativa — charas, ganja and bhang. However, with their easy accessibility and supposedly low risk factor, codeine based cough syrups and other synthetic drugs abusers are increasing progressively.

According to sources, the city gets very poor quality of heroine. It is mostly mixed up with synthetic drugs and adulterates like calcium carbonate and unscented talcum powder. This is one reason why the conventional drugs like opium and heroine are being replaced by capsules, syrup and injections. Another reason is the cost factor and the easy accessibility of cough syrup and synthetic drugs .

The abuse of codeine containing cough syrup is a special cause for worry for doctors and social trend observers. According to Dr Basu: “It is the younger age group which is being affected the most. The synthetic drugs are used to pep up parties, experience a ‘kick’ ,overcome boring study periods, just about everything. In fact the initiation is as simple as being introduced to a new movie.”

The abusers feel alert, more active and over talkative after taking the syrup. Although these are not the usual effect of opiods, which being central nervous system depressants, produce quite the opposite effect. The central stimulant effect is due to the presence of a ephedrine in the syrup in addition to codeine.

In the short run there may be no significant changes, psychologically and physiologically. But the long-term effects can be as damaging as any other drug.

Addiction, even to a cough syrup, is a big problem. It is a disease in itself and has to be treated like one. Professional help always is the best answer. It is also very important that parents exercise vigilance and be careful.

* Perception of a change in the routine daily behaviour. Youngster who has just picked up the habit could be spending more time behind closed doors or outside.

* The next alert signal could be the more visible signs. The eyes becoming red and some unexplained changes in the behaviour. And of course finding hard evidence which proves that your child has become an addict.

* However, it is important to understand that the parents need to talk to their son or daughter in a relaxed confidential manner. The addict should not get the feeling of being cornered or threatened.

* Identification happens to be the toughest job. The next step is persuasion when the addict needs to understand that he or she needs professional help.

* It is also very important that the parents keep the problem as much to themselves as possible. Besides the doctors and the immediate family, there is no reason why the information has to be divulged to all and sundry.

* It is a problem which definitely needs professional help. The first step after identification and persuasion should be to contact the psychiatry department of a hospital. Thereafter, it should be left in professional hands.

SPORT

Aarti steals the show
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, July 23 — Aarti Mehta stole the show in the women’s section by winning every possible title in the Chandigarh shooting meet, which concluded at Patiali ki Rao shooting ranges, Sector 25, here today.

The meet was organised by the Chandigarh Rifle Association. On this basis, UT shooters will take part in the IXth GV Mavlankar shooting championship, to be held in Chennai from September 1 to 12.

The final results are: air rifle (ISSF) senior men — Balvinder Singh 1, (541/600), Jasvinder Singh 2, Holinder Singh 3; senior women: Chetanpreet Kaur 1, Tamanna 2, Shaleen Chauhan 3; junior women — Chetanpreet Kaur 1, Tamanna 2, Prabhleen Chauhan 3; small bore free rifle (ISSF) prone senior men — Daleep Chandel 1, ( NR), Parminder Singh 2, Holinder Singh 3; sports rifle (ISSF) prone senior women — Raj Bala 1 ( 232/300), Prabhleen 2, Shaleen Chauhan 3; free rifle 3 posn, senior men — Jasvinder Singh 1, Parminder Singh 2, Holinder Singh 3 air pistol (ISSF) senior men — Parminder Singh 1 (570/600) (NMR), Harvinder Singh 2, Anand Mehta 3; senior women — Aarti Mehta 1; OS (NR) senior men — Jatin Kukreja 1 ( 296/400); Hitesh Chauhan 2, Karamvir Brar 3; junior men — Jatin Kukreja 1, Hitesh 2, Parampratap Singh 3; sub junior men — Gurpanit Singh1 (285/400), Karanvir Brar 2, Yuvraj Gill 3; senior women — Aarti Mehta 1( 313/400), Rupika Chauhan 2, Ramandeep Kaur 3; junior women — Aarti Mehta1 Rupika 2, Pinky Chaudhary 3; sub junior women — Khushbeen Brar1 (112/400), Anaahat Dhindsa 2; 22 std rifle ( OS) NR prone senior Men — Gaganbir Singh Dhillon 1 (236/300), DS Randhawa 2, Anoopjit Singh 3; junior men — Gurvinder Singh 1 Tejpal Singh 2, Jasbir Dhillon 3; senior women — Aarti Mehta1 (213/300), Jaspreet Kaur 2, Priti Sharma 3; junior women — Aarti Mehta 1, Pinky Chaudhary 2, Priti Sharma 3; 22 std rifle ( OS) NR 3 posn. senior men — Karanbir Singh1 ( 168/300), Gaganbir S. Dhillon 2, Amtoj Brar 3; Junior men: Amtoj

1, Jasbir Dhillon 2, Tejpal Singh 3. senior women — Aarti Mehta 1 Priti Sharma 2, Pinky Chaudhary 3; junior women — Aarti1 Pinky 2, Priti 3; 22 std rifle ( OS) NR NCC prone Jr women: Pinky1 Jaspreet Kaur 2, Sandhya 3; 3 posn junior women — Jaspreet 1, Pinky 2, Anaahat Dhindsa 3; centre fire Pistol- senior men — Gaganbir Dhillon 1, Amtoj Brar 2, Mainash Jain 3; air pistol( NR) senior men — Daleep Chandel 1, Holinder Singh 2, Gaganbir 3; junior men — Yuvraj Gill 1, Paramvir Singh 2, Jasbir Dhillon 3; sub junior men — Kanwardeep Parhar 1, KS Brar 2; senior women — Amrinder Kaur 1, Priti Sharma 2; junior women — Priti Sharma 1, Tamanna 2; sub junior women — Amrinder Kaur 1, Khushbeen Brar 2.