HEALTH

Many deaths attributed to coronary artery disease
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Jan 4 — Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the leading causes of death in India. Nine out of hundred of the population in cities and five out of any one hundred of the population in rural areas are suffering from CAD. This was stated by Dr R.P. Singh of Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre, New Delhi and a senior consultant cardiologist at Sigma Heart Institute and Research Centre, Ludhiana. While taking to The Tribune, he said that factors attributing to this disease are obesity, smoking, diabetes, probably genetic pre-disposition and dietery habits, particularly by the mushrooming growth of fast food corners and lack of physical activity.

Dr Singh said that incidences of CAD can be controlled by lowering high cholesterol. One per cent reduction of cholestrol lowers the incidence of CAD by 2 per cent. The optimum level of cholesterol appears to be 150 to 160 mg/dl. Dietry excess of saturated fatty acids found in coconut oil, palm oil, dairy products and meat contributes significantly to serum cholestrol, doctors added.

Obesity, which also was a cause of CAD, predisposition to hypertension, diabetes, high briglycerides and cholesterol, lower HDL and pre disposition to inactivity. This too needs to be controlled, he added.

Heart attack is also sometimes associated with or preceded by a phase of psycological stress. Frustration at work or at home are frequently associated with CAD. Other factors commonly held responsible are disturbed relations, change of job, divorce, loss of loved ones. Dr Singh suggested a control of stress and strain by meditation, yoga exercises, music and change in life style. Dr R.P. Singh said that moderate alcohol consumption 30-(60ml) appeared to reduce the risk of CAD (heart attack) by 40-50 per cent. Alcohol reduced the incidence of M I and sudden cardiac deaths, but drinking should not be any one’s main strategy for preventing CAD, he said.

ADMINISTRATION

Streamline land deals: DC
From Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, Jan 4 — The Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.K. Sandhu, today asked the people that all complaints regarding land disputes be sent to district and sub-division level committees set up for redressal and directed the police not to call any of the parties named in such matters to the police station.

Presiding over his weekly sangat darshan in the mini-secretariat here, he issued instructions to the revenue officials to streamline the system of registration of land deeds to minimise complaints regarding ownership of the land. The SDMs were also asked to monitor the number of applications received by them for demarcation of the land in their monthly meetings.

As many as 30 of the 45 complaints were settled.

Mr Mohinder Singh, a resident of Salempur village, lodged a complaint against a public sector bank, while Mrs Amarjit Kaur expressed her dissatisfaction over a probe by the Khanna district police on a complaint of misbehaviour by an ASI and other police personnel. The DC asked senior officers concerned to conduct an inquiry and report to him.

Among others, the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.R. Kler, the ADC (Development), Mr A.K. Sinha, the Assistant Commissioner (Complaints), Mrs Anita Darshi, the Joint Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation, Mr Harjinder Singh, all SDMs and senior officers of various government departments were present.