HEALTH

Gum disease increases heart attack risk?
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 12
Studies have suggested that periodontal (gum) health by itself can be an independent risk factor for stroke that is otherwise known to be caused by abnormal amounts of cholesterol concentrations, high blood pressure, smoking, sedentary life-style, stress etc. Coronary artery disease (CAD), is a major cause of death the world over.

Dr Vivek Saggar, a city-based dental surgeon who has worked on this correlation, says that gum disease increases the risk of heart attack in many ways. “Bacteria and other toxins in the blood circulation may promote systemic inflammatory response. This results in increased production of clotting factors. Bacteria can also attack the lining of blood vessels and induce platelet aggregation and promote vascular plaque formation, which eventually leads to blockage, clotting and thromboembolic events. The damage varies from person to person depending on genetic and environmental factors like stress, etc”, said Dr Saggar.

Dr Chestor W. Douglass from the Department of Oral Health Policy, Harvard School of Dental Medicine in his journal, “The Oral Care Report (a summary journal of Advances in Dentistry and Oral Health Care)” has quoted about half a dozen such studies that show that gum disease has a direct relation with the increase in risk of heart attacks.

Dr Saggar said periodontal (gum disease) was the second most common bacterial infection of our body after sore throat. Quoting a study conducted by the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, USA, he said it was found that around 48 per cent of elderly had gingivitis (mild form of gum disease) and about 33 per cent had peridontitis (moderate to severe form of gum disease). It usually manifested itself in the form of gums that were swollen and bled spontaneously while eating or brushing.

“Our mouth at any given time is full of bacteria. Most of them do not cause any harm but in cases of poor oral care or chronic diseases, these become destructive,” says Dr Saggar.

He said, “It would be surprising to know that the surface area of the epithelium of a pocket of gum in a person with moderate to severe gum disease was nearly equal to the skin surface of the inner aspect of our forearm. So the potential for bacterial invasion from the roots into the blood stream was immense. Once bacteria enter the blood stream, they can cause havoc and lead to stroke”.

Dr V.M. Kohli, Chief Cardiac Surgeon, Hero DMC Heart Institute, said that coronary artery diseases (CAD) could also be caused due to such infections (gum diseases) but there was no conclusive proof found so far. Some cardiologists confirmed the findings and said it was only recently that attention had been paid to areas such as hygiene.

Youth club organises free medical camp
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 12
More than 500 persons were examined besides being provided medicines and spectacles at a free medical check-up camp organised by the Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha Youth Club at Guru Teg Bahadur Public High School in New Simlapuri locality here.

The camp was inaugurated by Mr Rajinder Singh Bajwa, a councillor. Among other distinguished guests at the occasion were Mr Palwinder Singh Taggar, also a councillor.

According to Mr Baljit Singh Khalsa, chairman of the club, a team of doctors comprising Dr R.P. Singh Khurana from Khanna, Dr M.S. Solanki and Dr Arora examined the patients. Certain clinical tests and blood tests were also conducted where needed. Students of Guru Gobind Singh Paramedical Institute, Khanna, made a significant contribution towards making the camp a big success.

Prominent among those present at the occasion were Mr Avtar Singh, president of the club, Mr Lakhwinder Singh, Dr Shingara Singh, Dr Sanjay Kumar, Mr Balbir Singh, Mr Jaswinder Singh, Dr Piara Singh Chatoye, Mr Jagtar Singh, Mr Darshan Singh, Mr Sukhwant Singh, Mr Khushi Ram, Mr Manjit Singh, Mr Subhash Chander, mr Nirpal Singh Kalsi and Dr Naresh Aggarwal.

Inter-district hockey meet ends
Our Correspondent

Doraha, June 12
The 7-day Punjab State Junior Inter-District Championship concluded here yesterday. Hockey teams from all over Punjab including Khanna, Nawanshahr, Gurdaspur, Amritsar , Ferozepore , Ludhiana, Moga, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar and Ropar participated in the championship organised by the Khanna police district.

The final match was played between Khanna and Ropar districts in which both the teams scored one goal each during full time. Finally the result was decided through penalty strokes. While Khanna scored four penalty strokes, Ropar converted three. Khanna won the meet from Ropar at 5-4.

Mr M S Bhullar , DGP, Punjab presided over the function and the guest of honour was Mr Tejparkash Singh, Transport Minister, Punjab. Mr Devinder Singh Garcha, SSP, Khanna, and the organising secretary of the event, welcomed the guests and congratulated the winning team. Mr Bhullar, stressed on the need for an awakening regarding sports and field events . He also said that the sub-junior, junior and senior championships shall be organised every year at district level.

A gold cup in the memory of late Chief Minister Beant Singh was given to the winning team alongwith the prize money of Rs 21,000. The runners up got a cash prize of Rs 11,000. The prizes were given by Mr Tejparkash Singh. Apart from this, hockey olympians were honoured on the occasion. Among these were Jaswant Singh, Jagdeep Singh Gill, Ramandeep Singh, Didar Singh. Hardeep Singh Neeta, Harmit Singh (former captain of Indian hockey team), Ajit Singh, Pargat Singh, Surinder Singh Sodhi, Arjuna Awardee, Gurdev Gill and Baldev Singh. Various police officials and organisers including Mr Rohit Chawdhary, DIG, Mr Mukhwinder Singh Cheema, SSP, Jagraon, Mr Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, SSP, Ropar, Mr Harinderjit Singh, SP, Khanna, Mr Gurkirpal Singh, SP (D) Khanna, Mr Amarjit Singh DSP, Payal and others were honoured on the occasion.

Ludhiana
Cricket tourney: The title aspirants, Green Land Senior Secondary School suffered a jolt as they lost rather tamely by 7-wickets at the hands of Sargodha National Public School in the league match of the 6th Chaman Lal Cricket Cup Tournament for Boys (u-15) being organised by the Ludhiana District Cricket Association at the Arya College for Boys ground here today.

Sargodha National Public School won the toss and invited Green Land Senior Secondary School to bat first. Despite Himanshu’s useful contribution of 67 runs, Green Land School’s innings folded at 151 runs in 23.2 overs. For Sargodha School, Yogesh Kumar and Sushyant claimed four and two wickets, respectively. Sargodha National Public School, powered by Dushyant Kohli’s 38 and Pankaj’s 33 made the required runs losing just three wickets in 15.4 overs.

Brief scores: Green Land Senior Secondary School — 151 all out in 23.2 overs (Himanshu 67, Deep Saini 14, Yogesh Kumar 4 for 27, and Sushyant Kohli 2 for 20): Sargodha National Public School — 156 for 3 in 15.4 overs ( Dushyant Kohli 38, Pankaj 33, Amarpal 26 not out, Ashish Prabhakar 1 for 40 and Navjot 1 for 14).

Local lifters excel: Players of a local club who represented the district team in the Punjab State Powerlifting Championship held at Bathinda recently gave an excellent performance. The trainees of the national player, Baljeet Singh Bobby of the World Wide Health Club, Shimlapuri, Ludhiana bagged two gold and one silver medal in this meet.

This was informed in a press note issued by the club here today. Pawan Kumar in 60 kg category and Puneetpal Singh Kala taking part in 90 kg category clinched gold medals. In the 90 kg category, Bhupinder Singh of this club won a silver medal. Another trainee of this club, Pankaj Sharma finished at the fourth place in 60 kg category. International powerlifting players, Sushil Kumar and Bhupinder Singh Virdi, state-level players Amarjeet Singh and Jagjeet Singh, have congratulated these players on their stupendous performance.