The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

HEALTH

Rise in breathing problems
Shivani Bhakoo

Ludhiana, April 17
Almost half of the city’s population is estimated to be suffering from a number of respiratory problems owing to the harvesting of wheat crop, which is in the full swing in rural areas of the district. The chest departments of local hospitals are filled to the brim as the patients suffering from respiratory disorders are reporting to these hospitals.

Say experts of chest departments at various hospitals: “Due to harvesting of wheat dust particles get suspended in the atmosphere, which add to the pollution, thus causing several respiratory problems”.

The doctors said since this was the peak time for harvesting, the number of patients suffering from respiratory ailments had started pouring in at the city hospitals and private clinics. Dr A.S. Chawla, former president Indian Academy of Pediatrics Ludhiana branch, said: “Children come with many problems during these days. Complaints of burning sensation on the nasal lining, frequent sneezing, trouble in breathing, weakness due to breathlessness, cough and mild fever do come to us. These are common symptoms arising out of allergies. He said that such children needed proper medication”.

The asthmatic patients had already started visiting chest OPDs of various hospitals. Mr Rajesh Malik, a patient, complained that their condition would worsen when the farmers would start burning the stubble. He added that the administration should take preventive measures so that there could be no harm to human health. The burning of wheat stubble deteriorate the condition of asthmatic patients and polluted the environment. I am dependent on inhalers, steroids and oral solutions during these days. Due to rise in temperature and harvesting season, I often get asthmatic attacks”.

The experts stressed that if proper care was not taken during these months, there could be a sharp rise in attacks among the asthmatic patients, who might need hospitalization in severe cases.

Dr Iqbal Ahuja, a gynaecologist, said that the season was bad for pregnant women too, especially those who were in their last stage of pregnancy. “If proper care is not taken, the allergy can harm the unborn child also”.

CMC to hold CME on headache
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 17
As part of golden jubilee celebrations of the introduction of MBBS courses by the Christian Medical College, the Department of Neurology will organise the first north zone continuing medical education (CME) programme on headache on April 19.

Dr Rajeev Kapoor, Deputy Medical Superintendent, in a press statement today said that this would be the first meeting on the subject in northern India. Headache disorders were a common problem their occurrence was so common that more than 90 per cent of men and 95 per cent of women had headache every year.

Majority of headache sufferers belong to the young and productive age group of the society. In India, majority of these headaches disorders remained undiagnosed, untreated or improperly treated.

The CME on headache disorders would help, with the help of faculty, to provide answers to diagnostic as well as therapeutics dilemmas which confronted the physician.

This first CME on headache would be addressed by renowned headache experts of national and international repute. Some of the top neurologists of India, Professor Sudesh Kumar from PGI, Dr K. Ravishankar, national convener for the Indian Headache Society, an internationally renowned headache expert from Jaslok hospital, Mumbai, would share their experiences on headache management.

Some other neurologists like Dr Rakesh Shukla, Prof Sanjeev Dua, Dr Vivek Lal and Dr Sachin Jain would also address the meeting.

Delegates from all over northern India, including Delhi, Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Uttar Pradesh would also be participating in the CME. The CME is open to public.

SPORTS

Mukul to lead dist cricket team
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, April 17
At the conclusion of the training-cum-conditioning camp conducted by the Ludhiana District Cricket Association (LDCA) here at the Arya College for Boys, the following 20 boys have been shortlisted to represent the district in the coming Punjab State Inter-District Cricket Championship (under-15 )for Sushil Bali Trophy to be organised by the Punjab Cricket Association in the state from April 19 to 29. Mukul Gupta has been named captain of the team, according to Mr Vinod Chitkara, honorary general secretary, LDCA.

The other players are: Pankaj Kumar (vice-captain), Bharat Malhotra, Sushyant Kohli, Gagandeep Dhand, Savnit Singh, Nakul Sharma, Arjun Puri, Vineet Sehgal, Puneet Kumar, Vishwajit, Atul Kohli, Vishal Passi, Amritpal Singh, Raminder Brar, Sahil Bakshi, Mohit Sharma, Nipun Sharma, Amit Sharma and Geetansh. Mr Dharam Paul will be the coach-cum-manager of the team. Ludhiana, in their inugural match will take on Amritsar on April 19 in Amritsar.