The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

HEALTH

Survey ranks CMC among top 20 medical institutes
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 4
The Christian Medical College (CMC), Ludhiana, a premier medical institution of the northern region, has been ranked 15th for the year 2005-2006 in a survey conducted by a national magazine. The survey was carried out in collaboration with AC Nielson, ORG-MARG, and the ranking was based on elaborate methodology, involving perception and factual ratings.

Dr John Pramod, Director, CMC, while congratulating the faculty for this distinction, remarked that there were more than 200 medical colleges in the country, and standing among the top 20 was a matter of pride for the institution. “In this closely contested competition, there is a very narrow margin among the top rankers.”

The survey has added one more feather in the cap of the CMC, as this happened to be the only institute in Punjab and other neighboring states to have made it to the list of top medical colleges of the country.

According to Dr Pramod, the CMC has always strived for excellence and maintained a good reputation despite having limited funds. On the top of it, the task of maintaining its charitable character was really taxing. The institute has won accolades for its community health and development programmes. “This ranking will motivate all faculty members, employees, and the students of the CMC to put in more efforts so that the institution can stand taller and achieve a still better position next year,” he hoped.

Sharing similar views, Dr John Abraham, medical superintendent, remarked that a national TV channel conducted a survey in November 2004, which had placed the hospital attached to the CMC at 11th place among the best hospitals of the country. The survey was based on patient satisfaction.

Dr Mohan Verghese, principal of the CMC, said the dedicated and committed faculty of the CMC, drawn from all over India, deserved appreciation for their achievement. “It will be our endeavour to make greater progress and contribution to the health needs of our country.”

Protect yourself from pollution
Dr Anil Dheer

Today is World Environment Day. The first environment day was celebrated on June 5, 1972, when the United Nations General Assembly earmarked a World Environment Day to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the human environment.

The ongoing population explosion has placed great strain on the country's environment.

The rapidly growing population, urbanisation and industrialisation, have placed significant pressure on the country's infrastructure and its natural resources.

While deforestation, soil erosion, water pollution and land degradation continue to hinder economic development in rural India, rapid industrialisation and urbanisation in India's booming metropolises are straining the limits of municipal services and causing serious air pollution problems.

Industrial pollution, too, is increasing public health risks.

Air pollution is made up of many kinds of gases, droplets and particles that reduce the quality of the air. In the city, air pollution may be caused by cars, buses, and airplanes, as well as industry and construction. Air pollution in the country maybe caused by dust from tractor-trailers ploughing fields, trucks and cars driving on dirty roads, rock quarries and smoke from wood and crop fires.

Air pollution can irritate eyes, throat and lungs. Burning eyes, cough and chest tightness are common with exposure to high levels of air pollution. People with heart disease, such as angina, or with lung disease, such as asthma, may be very sensitive to exposure to air pollution.

Children probably feel the effects of pollution at lower levels than adults. They also experience more illness, such as bronchitis and earaches, in the areas of high pollution.

Water can be important source of chemicals hazards. It can leach lead from pipes especially if the water is soft and has a low PH. Chlorination of water has helped saved millions of lives.

Some concern has been raised about possible increased cancer risks in association with chlorinated water but there is as yet no proof that a casual association between the two exists. Fluoride added to water reduces the risks of caries but can also have unwanted effects such as mottling of the teeth.

Recreational water which is heavily contaminated with pathogens, notably coliform bacteria has been shown to be associated with an increased risk of gastrointestinal and other infectious illness, usually self-limiting. Due to contamination of drinking water people can suffer from cholera, typhoid and jaundice

Noise is unwanted sound. It is among the most pervasive pollutants today. It has a significant impact on the quality of life. This form of pollution may come from road traffic, jet planes, , construction equipment, loud music, manufacturing processes and leaf blowers. Problems related to noise include hearing loss, stress, high blood pressure, sleep loss, low productivity and a general reduction in the quality of life. Noise may be related to birth defects and low-weight babies.

Protection

Stay indoors as much as you can during days when pollution levels are high. Many pollutants have lower levels indoors than outdoors.

If you must go outside, limit outside activity to the early morning hours or wait until after sunset. This is important in high ozone conditions because sunshine drives up ozone levels.

Don't exercise or exert yourself outdoors when air quality reports indicate unhealthy conditions. The faster you breathe, the more pollution you take into your lungs.

Drink boiled or filtered water everytime.

To avoid noise pollution, wear ear plugs in noisy places. Turn down the volume of stereos, especially those with headsets.

Use handkerchiefs instead of tissues. Save trees.

Say no to plastics. Take a cloth or jute bag when shopping.

Fix every leaking tap the moment you detect the leak. Set up water savers like water dams in your toilets.

Don't throw away your old toys and clothes. Pass them on. Make sure people re-use stuff.

You must clean your surroundings.

Always throw waste in the dustbins that you find on the roadside, and if you cannot find one, take it back home and throw it in your bin at home.

Cover your mouth and nose with clean cloth, when you are on road.

To avoid eye problems wear good quality goggles.

To flush internal (body) dust, take five to 10 grams of jaggery (gur ) twice daily with water.

For immunity, eat more fresh fruits and vegetables in routine.

Controlling weight through surgery
Our Correspondent

Sahnewal, June 4
Weight loss surgery, commonly known as Bariatric surgery, has brought a ray of hope to morbidly obese patients, who had given up all hope of regaining physical fitness and a slim posture again.

A team of surgeons led by Dr Gurdip Singh Sidhu, here reportedly performed this advanced laparoscopic surgery on a patient Jaspal Kaur who weighed 134 kg and was suffering from severe diabetes and disturbed sleep pattern.

Dr Sidhu claimed that with the help of this surgery Jaspal Kaur was sure to reduce half of her weight in the comming three or four months and almost all of it in one year. Moreover, he further claimed that this weight loss was going to be permanent and the diabetes of Jaspal Kaur too shall be surely brought under control with the help of this surgery.

Dr Sidhu said obesity is the most serious health threat facing the mankind today morbid obesity brings with it an increased risk of a shorter lifespan. For individuals whose weight exceeds twice their ideal body weight, the risk of an early death is doubled as compared to non-obese individuals. The risk of death from diabetes, heart attack or cancer is five to seven times greater. Social, psychological and economic effects of morbid obesity, however unfair, are real and can be especially devastating.

The doctor explained that those patients, who are morbidly obese, who have additional obesity related medical conditions called co-morbidities, like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, arthritis etc are candidates for weight loss surgery. There are two types of operations, which are commonly performed i.e. Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding and Raparoscopic Gastric Bypass.

In Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding, an adjustable band is placed around the upper part of stomach laparoscopically. This divides the stomach into two pouches. With the small quantity of food, the upper pouch fills and gives a sensation of fullness. Laparoscopy extends benefits of ease of insertion of the band. This procedure is very patient-friendly. The patient normally goes home after a day or two. In Laparoscopic gastric bypass, a bypass from stomach to the intestine is created, because of which ingested fats and carbohydrates in the food do not come in to contact with the absorptive area of intestines responsible for fat absorption. This operation is reserved for extremely obese patients.