HEALTH

Avoid stress and lead healthy life: psychiatrist
Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, June 3
''Ongoing and chronic stress is responsible for causing a very wide range of psychological and psycho-physiological illnesses like high blood pressure, obesity and heart illnesses. It has been observed that most of the people are able to face major crises in their lives but it is the constant and irritating stress, which in fact exhausts the people.''

These observations were made by Dr Rajeev Gupta, a prominent psychiatrist, while making a presentation on ''Common triggers of psychiatric illnesses' organised by Manas Foundation, a city based NGO here yesterday. A large number of medical professionals attended the presentation.

He said that in case of females, normal life events like puberty, engagement, marriage, delivery and menopause could also trigger severe anxiety and depression, and sometimes these symptoms persisted for couple of months. Dr Gupta blamed the regular use of alcohol and intoxicants for the fast growing psycho-pathology behaviour and emotional problems among the college students. "Increasing use of narcotics have given rise to violent tendencies among the youth in the state and non-medical drug abuse by the general population needs to be strictly checked," he added.

Dr Gupta explained the role of genetic factors in transmitting various mental disorders from parents to the children. He said that it was a common myth that marriage cured the mental illnesses and advised against marrying psychiatric patients with florid symptomatology.

The meeting was chaired by Dr L.S. Chawla, an eminent physician and former Vice-Chancellor of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences. Speaking at the occasion, Dr Chawla focused on the role of family doctors and the physicians in identifying the patients with common psychological problems at an early stage.

He said that timely intervention could save lives of many people. Dr Chawla appreciated the patients who could shed their inhibitions and come forward for help for their psychological problems.

DMCH holds medical camp for pensioners
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 3
As many as 250 patients were examined at a free medical check-up camp organised for government pensioners by DMCH at the Pensioners Bhawan, Mini Secretariat, here today.

A team of doctors comprising of Dr J.L. Bassi (Orthpaedics), Dr R.K. Garewal (Eye), Dr H.S. Dhooria (Medicine), Dr Kapil Dua (ENT), and Mrs Ritu Sudhakar (Dieitician) conducted the camp.

Mr B.R. Kaushal, chairman, Pensioners Information Centre, while thanking the doctors, applauded the whole-hearted effort by DMCH in organising the camp.

A lecture was also delivered by consultants for senior citizens, who were given tips on how to avoid and take care of age-related illnesses.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief guest, Mr Rakesh Pandey, Minister of State for printing and stationery, laid stress on the need to provide better medical care to the elderly in the society.

Dr Vandana Midha, associate professor at DMCH and incharge of the DMCH Senior Citizen Health Care section, informed that a senior citizen care line was launched last year by DMCH on World Senior Citizen Day on May 1 for providing quality health care to those who crossed 60 years of age and need ed periodical check-ups.

The objective of organising this camp was to make pensioners suffering from ailments aware of the benefits they could avail by enrolling themselves and their spouse as lifetime members under the aforesaid scheme, she added.

Membershipof the scheme can avail the facility of basic health tests, five free Out Patient

A 10 per cent discount on all OPD, investigation/ indoor hospitalisation treatment expenses, issue of senior citizen identity card and participation in health education lectures would be a part of the scheme.

Senior citizens would have to pay Rs 1,000 as a one-time payment for the purpose, she said.

SPORTS

NBA legend Robert Reid to train Indian coaches
Anil Datt

Ludhiana, June 3
Punjab has become the first state in the country to hold a training and knowledge sharing session at the highest level in the game of basketball.

The Directorate of Sports, Punjab, with the help of Punjab Government has roped in Robert Keith Reid from the biggest basketball league in the world, NBA, to undertake training sessions for the basketball coaches of Punjab and other states and union territories. Teams from all over the country are in the city for the 57th Dhanoa Junior National Basketball Championship being held here since May 27. Robert had a stellar career in the prestigious NBA basketball league in the USA and had the honour of playing 13 seasons in the league-1977-1991. He was nicknamed as the ‘King of Rebound Attack’.

Addressing a press conference here this evening, Robert Reid expressed the hope that the two-day clinic to be held tomorrow and on Monday would definitely help to improve the standard of the game in this country. He dwelt upon the features, which could help a coach in imparting the ‘best’ training to his players. “After the clinic, one could see the difference,” Robert exuded confidence.

Earlier, Mr Rana Gumeet Singh Sodhi, Chief Parliamentary Secretary and Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, informed that the Punjab Government had resolved to unveil a new chapter in the Indian sports history by bringing a legend- Robert Reid.

He said the objective of this effort was to raise the bar for the Indian basketball players and coaches. During the clinic, as many as 72 coaches from across the nation would be given tips to improve the game here, Mr Sodhi added.

“Keeping in view the 2008 Olympics and the 2010 Commonwealth Games, we had decided to explore options to invite coaches for the disciplines in which India had chances to excel. These disciplines include - shooting, athletics, boxing, weightlifting, hockey and wrestling,” the minister said.

The Director Sports, Punjab, Pargat Singh, in his speech, said the schedule for the clinic undertaken by Robert Reid had been drawn out to get the maximum benefits. Nine sessions during this historic endeavour two-day exercise would broadly cover diverse aspects of the game like nurturing the talent and improving skills; technical nuances and the latest advancements thereof and injury management and feedback, the Director said.

Kirti wins LIC chess tourney
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, June 3
Kirti Sharma of the divisional office defeated the defending champion, Suraj Parkash from Gurdev Nagar branch in the Life Insurance Corporation of India Ludhiana Division Chess Tournament organised by the LIC Employees Sports and Recreation Club in the divisional office at Dugri here today. Participants from the eight local branch offices and the divisional office competed in the tournament.

In the men’s section, Sanjiv Kalia of the branch office, unit II, beat Balbir Singh to secure the third spot, while in the women’s section, Ashma Saxena of the divisional office got the better of Nisha Gosain of unit-I. Narpinder Kaur finished third.

Mr S.C. Dhinra, senior divisional manager, LIC, Ludhiana division, gave away prizes to the winners.