HEALTH

Avoid stress for healthy heart: experts
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 10
“There are 60 out of 1,000 Punjabis who suffer from heart ailments as compared to 31 out of 1,000 persons in Delhi. According to the WHO, 60 per cent of world population suffering from heart disease would be from India in the next 10 years. The situation is becoming alarming as more young patients are contracting heart diseases. More women are getting in the ambit of heart diseases, “ said Dr Harvinder Singh Bedi, Chairman, Cardiovascular Surgery , Metro Heart Institute.

He was in the city to address a seminar on recent advances and challenges in cardiac care. Addressing doctors from Ludhiana district, he said that it was unfortunate that Indians were genetically predisposed to cardiac problems . The stress and strain of life was making people four times more prone to heart ailments. Prevention was cost effective. But since cardiac surgery was often resorted to, many advances have been made .

Through the slides, he explained the procedure of endoscopic vein harvesting (EVH) which is much safer than removing vein from the leg. In the EVH technique since the wound is very small, it heals fast. Dr H.S. Bedi is the first cardiac surgeon to start this technique in Asia.

In this technique, the whole vein can be easily removed by the use of an endoscope similar to laparoscope via a tiny key hole incision. Dr Harvinder explained how doctors could use ‘beating heart surgery’. He said, “A key advantage in beating heart surgery is the avoidance of a heart lung machine. This surgery causes less damage to heart , and costs less to the patients. Finally it saves a lot of money for the country because all this money is actually saving of foreign exchange.”

Dr Bedi has got his name entered in the Limca Book of Records for his new technique. He has used total arterial multi- vessel bypass surgery on beating hearts.

Earlier, he inaugurated Metro Heart Kulwant Heart Institute at Kichulu Nagar.

Dr S.C. Manchanda, Chairman, Metro Hospitals said.” Fifty years ago the incidence of cardiac arrests were much lesser than today. Although we Indians are more predisposed to heart diseases, yet there has been an abnormal increase in the number of patients suffering from heart trouble. It is our sedentary life style coupled with stress and strain that is responsible for the increase in heart diseases.”

He said that it should be made mandatory in school to teach children about the correct life style. As a very effective stress buster, yoga and meditation should be taught to students.

SARS threat over, foreign travel picks up
Asha Ahuja

Ludhiana, June 10
As Singapore, Bali, Malaysia, Bangkok have been declared SARS-free, residents of the city have started flying to these countries for spending holidays. Trips to these places were out of bounds earlier due to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The disease had caused a great fear among people. June is the right month for holidaying with families as children enjoy visiting places during the summer vacation. Heat also tempts people to leave Ludhiana. Since holidaying in India costs quite a packet, Ludhianvis like to take a trip to South Asian countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Bangkok, Hong Kong etc. Trips to these countries offer them more thrills and shopping opportunities.

Mr Ashish Arora, a business man, says, “We used to go to Goa during holidays. The stay and airfare were getting steeper every year. So we have decided to go to Singapore as it has now been declared SARS-free. Moreover, airlines are offering tickets to Singapore at just 50 per cent of the gross fare plus taxes. So it works out cheaper going abroad than holidaying in India.”

Ms Vineeta says, "We are going to Singapore as travel agencies are offering good deals. Imagine a trip for two nights to Singapore, including airfare, is going to cost us Rs 15,470 per person, plus taxes and visas. We find the offer very thrilling. We have calculated that holidaying in Goa would cost us Rs 19,570 for three-night accommodation, so we are going to Singapore.”

Ms Pammi Khanna says,” We are going on a cruise. We expect the journey to be relaxing and fun-filled. In Bangkok and Pataya, accommodation is no problem and shopping at these places is a real fun.” Holidays in India do not offer so much variety,” she says.

Samrat Coolers XI taste victory
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, June 10
Useful innings by Nakul Sharma (60 n.o.), Shivam Passi (57) and Sahil Bansal (40) and fine bowling by Rohit (3 for 13) enabled Samrat Coolers XI beat Park Lane Club by 95 runs to register their maiden victory in the ongoing Seventh Chaman Lal Malhotra Cricket Cup Tournament (U-14) being organised by the Ludhiana District Cricket Association at the Arya College for Boys ground here today. In the inaugural match of the meet on Sunday, Samrat Coolers XI had lost to Charanjit Singh Ahluwalia XI.

Batting first, after winning the toss, Samrat Coolers XI made 231 for three in the stipulated 30 overs and then restricted Park Lane Club to 136 runs in 18.5 overs.

Brief scores: Samrat Coolers XI — 231 for 3 in 30 overs (Sahil Bansal 40, Shivam Passi 57, Nakul Sharma 60 n.o., Nakul 1 for 41). Park Lane Club 136 — all out in 18.5 overs (Prince 27, Sahil 16, Gurmeet 16, Aman 26 n.o., Sahil Bansal 3 or 29, Rohit 3 for 13, Amit Sharma 1 for 32 and Nakul Sharma 2 for 20).

City players excel

Ludhiana players bagged 27 medals, including nine gold, in the 10th Punjab Open Full Contact Martial Art Championship organised by the Veer Kwon Do Martial Art Academy at Ahmedgarh yesterday.

The gold medal winners included Jaspreet Saini, Nikhil Jain, Rohan, Gaurav Bawa, Gaurav Bhalla, Ravi Ghai, Naneh Prasad, Dinesh Kumar and Tilak Raj while the silver medal winners were Aditya Lohman, Karan, Sahil Sekhri, Santosh Kumar, Shaturghan, Sunil Kumar, Rakhsal and Dilbahadur.

Local players won 10 bronze medals and the winners were Mehtab, Harvinder Singh, Sandip Kumar, Mukesh, Bahadur, Vishal Kumar, Ajit Singh, Sanjay, Dalip and Rajesh Kumar.