HEALTH

‘Pollution affects heart too’
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 6
If you thought the increasing pollution levels in the environment only affects your heart, you are mistaken. Latest studies by cardiologists indicate that your heart too could be a victim.

“Scientific studies have clearly established that people residing in polluted areas suffer from coronary heart diseases,” revealed Prof Upendra Kaul, one of the first cardiologists to start coronary interventions in India. The fine particulate matter in the air enters the blood through the lungs and finally gets lodged in the arteries in the heart causing an attack, he explained.

Dr Kaul, recipient of the prestigious Dr B.C. Roy award and a former Professor of Cardiology at AIIMS, said in the USA studies had indicated that those residing in polluted areas had higher heart problems.

Dr Kaul said increasing stress levels, a result of complex urban living has resulted in the age of cardiac patients coming down from 70 years to 35 years. “It is disheartening to see how an increasing number of young people, below 40 years, suffer cardiac arrest,” he said.

Dr Kaul, who delivered a lecture on the use of drug-coated stent in cardiac procedures, said the launch of the device in India by Boston Scientific Corporation would bring about a revolution in the field of cardiology. “With the launch of the device in India, its cost would come to Rs 90,000 as compared to Rs 1.50 lakh and is likely to go down further”, he stated.

Dwelling on the magnitude of the problem, he said even though 7 crore people in India suffered from heart diseases and almost 7 lakh were in need of angioplasty, the actual number of angioplasties being done was only 50,000 annually. He felt that with the launch of the drug-coated stent in India, more patients would be able to afford it apart from the fact that it reduced the chances of recurrence of the problem.

Doppler test can reduce foetal mortality
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 6
Gynaecologists have stressed the need for providing Doppler test at all medical institutes as it helps in assessing the foetal health, thereby reducing mortality rate.

Speaking at a workshop organised by the Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI) at the PGI here today, Dr Kusha G. Ghosh from Apollo Hospital said Doppler test facility should be made available at maximum possible places. AIIMS and the PGI already have this facility.

Doctors pointed out that it was due to the low oxygen level in the blood that there was foetus mortality. They added that one of the reasons for complications in pregnancies was late marriages.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Sham Desai, secretary general of FOGSI , said there was shortage of endoscopists in India. FOGSI would approach Medical Education Department to include endoscopic procedures as part of post-graduation teaching curriculum. Endoscopy could help reduce infections upto 15 per cent, he added.

‘Biomedical waste not treated properly’
Our Correspondent

SAS Nagar, April 6
Medical waste of Ropar district, including SAS Nagar, is not being treated according to he rules in Bariali village, near here, endangering the environment.

Stating this at a press conference here today, Dr K.R.K. Raman, president of the India chapter of the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology, warned that if the waste was not treated with appropriate chemicals within 24 hours of rejection, there could be a danger of disease breaking out.

He said in Bariali, where an incineration had become functional recently, biomedical waste could be seen lying around and there was a smell in the area. He said the incinerator was not being put to use on a regular basis.

Dr Raman said he would bring the matter to the notice of the Ropar Deputy Commissioner. He said in Chandigarh special training was being given to doctors in the disposal of biomedical waste.

SPORTS

Army Commanders XI win
Our Correspondent

SAS Nagar, April 6
Army Commanders XI outplayed Punjab Cricket Association XI by three wickets in a friendly cricket match played today at PCA Stadium, here.

It started at about 10 am when PCA XI members took on the Army Commanders XI bowlers and after winning the toss, elected to bat first.

As two of there best batsmen marched down the field, the crowd stood up to applaud.

Finally, the man everyone had been waiting for — the Punjab Governor, Lieut-General J.F.R. Jacob (Retd), descended on the field to launch a fierce attack.

Full of vigour and enthusiasm, the chief guest tried to drive away the ball before walking back to the pavilion, smiling.

The PCA XI managed to pile up an impressive total of 152 runs in 30 overs after losing eight wickets.

Then came the young fighters, all set to win the battle of “hearts and mind”.

In fact, they managed to score about 129 runs in 22 overs after losing three wickets. Army Commanders XI achieved the target of 153 runs in 28.3 overs with the help of an impressive performance by Major S S Salaria who was adjudged the best batsman for his tremendous score of 44 runs in 44 balls.

He also bagged two wickets. Major Rohit Mehta was adjudged the best bowler as he claimed three wickets contributing 27 runs.

General Jacob gave away prizes to the winning team which included Lieut-General S.S. Mehta, GOC-in-C, Western Command.

Karan, Manav clinch titles
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, April 6
Karan Patnaik proved his prowess to bag the under-18 section title on the concluding day of the St Soldier’s Total Tennis Academy Tournament played at St Soldier’s Divine Public School, Sector 16, Panchkula.

The boys under-18 final was very exciting with first set extending to tie breaker. However, Karan clinched his second set at 6-3.

Another final was played between Manav Dhawan and Keshav Mahajan in under-14 section. Manav lost the first set but won the next two sets at 6-2, 6-3. In the boys under-10 final, Jaivardhan Gupta defeated Samin Bharghav at 6-4, 6-4.

Ms Neera Singh, Principal of the host school, gave away the prizes. Mr Devender Kapoor of the Total Tennis Academy informed that the third and final leg of this circuit for the junior section will be played from April 9 to 13 at the YMCA Total Tennis Academy, Sector 11, Chandigarh.

Results: all finals: Boys under-10 — Jaivardhan Gupta b Samin Bharghav 6-4,6-4; boys under-12 — Ankit Badoni b Samin Bharghav 6-0,6-1; boys under-14; Manav Dhawan b Keshav Mahajan 4-6, 6-2, 6-3; and boys under-18: Karan Patnaik b Gurmehar Brar 7-6(5), 6-3.

Powergolf-2003

The team comprising Lieut-General K.S. Mann, S.K. Sharma, Balkishan Singh and P.K. Verma with combined score of 140 remained the team winner in the Express Powergolf -2003, which was played here today at the Chandigarh Golf Club, Sector 6. The runners-up were the team comprising, Yashvir Mahajan, Ms Vijay Wadhawan, Maj-General S.P.S. Vains and Col G.S. Panag with total score of 136.

Ms Madhu Brar with 39 points lead in the women section while Ms Vijay Wadhawan with 38 points was the runner-up. H.S. Kang had the longest drive on sixth hole. Dr Promila Chari secured first place in the event nearest to the pin on 14th hole. Sq Ldr J.S. Gill was adjudged the oldest golfer on the course.

Cricket meet

A brilliant knock of 128 runs in 76 deliveries by skipper Harish Puri of the District Coaching Centre, Panchkula, helped the Centre in defeating DYFI XI by six wickets in the ‘B’ division match of the VIIth UT League Cricket Tournament played here at PEC cricket grounds today.

In the second tie played today, Seventeen Cricket Club got the better of New India Assurance XI by a margin of 106 runs and earned four points from the league match. In other matches of the day, BBMB XI beat Sun Cricket Club by seven wickets while Munjal XI outclassed Talwar XI by nine wickets.

Brief scores: Ist tie: DYFI XI: 208 runs for three in 30 overs (Chandan 72, Ajay Bhatia 52, Vinod Kumar 25, Ajay 23 n.o.) District Coaching Centre, Panchkula: 209 runs for four in 25.1 overs (Harish Puri 128, Rinku 40, pankaj 2 for 56); IInd tie: Seventeen Cricket Club: 225 runs for five in 25 overs (Rakesh Bittu 50, Hemant Singh 40, Upendra 38, Dheeraj Kumar 32 n.o., Surinder 28, Sanjay Kaw 2 for 54); New India Assurance XI:119 runs all out (Surinder Singh 31, Anil Sharma 27, Anil 4 for 23, Surinder 3 for 17, Kedar 2 for 23); IIIrd tie: Sun Cricket Club: 132 runs for nine (Vishal 45, Rajan 27, Amit 3 for 17, Pawan 2 for 11, Kamal 2 for 29); BBMB XI:135 runs for three in 17.2 overs (Kamalpreet 52 n.o., Munish Chadha 28 n.o., Sunil 2 for 35); IVth tie: Talwar XI: 97 runs all out (Puneet 32, Rupinder 20, Nikhil 2 for 12, Rajan Munjal 2 for 20); Munjal XI: 100 runs for one in 11.4 overs (Harjit Singh 65 n.o., kamal 24).

Godrej club win

Arun Tuli gave a scintillating performance when he scored 58 runs and then claimed five wickets for just seven runs, helping Godrej Cricket Club in beating Samsung XI by 131 runs to win the Shirdi Sai Cup Cricket Tournament played here today at Government Model Senior Secondary School grounds, Sector 19.

Brief scores: Godrej CC: 236 runs all out (Arun Tuli 58, MP Singh 48, Sunny Sharma 37, Amit Kakria 26, Harminder Bawa 18, Nikhil Singh 4 for 32, R.P. Singh 2 for14, Rahul Panta 2 for 48). Samsung XI: 105 runs all out (Gurinder Saini 53, Rajesh Patha 37, Arun Tuli 5 for seven, Satish Chaudhary 3 for17, Parminder Singh 2 for 18).

Sanjeev shines

A superb performance by Sanjeev Trikha who scored unbeaten 67 runs and bagged three wickets for just eight runs, helped High Court XI in beating Chandigarh District Courts XI by just two runs in the District Courts Lawyers Cricket Association, Chandigarh, here today at the Sector 16 Cricket Stadium. In another tie, Jalandhar Bar Association outplayed Panchkula District Courts XI by 10 wickets.