HEALTH

Is your heart in the pink of health ?
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 25
'Indians are susceptible to heart diseases because of genetic factors. Unfortunately, Punjabis, especially residents of Ludhiana, are prone to heart diseases because of an unhealthy life-styleand bad eating habits.

Making these observations at an interactive community health lecture here yesterday, Dr Vandana Rajput, a consultant physician and cardiologist at Apollo Clinic emphasised that exercise, proper diet and healthy life-style, coupled with stress management were important to ensure a healthy heart. In addition, it was beneficial to go in for regular health-checks so that any problem related to the heart could be detected and treated at an early stage. "You owe it to yourself and your loved ones ! Don't wait for chest pain to strike before you consult a doctor."

Dr Rajput pointed out that health checks exposed risk factors like smoking, stress, a sedentary life-style, obesity, high cholesterol level, and a family history of heart disease. Comprehensive heart check up assessed the cardio-vascular status of a person so as to provide that the proverbial 'stitch in time.' The heart check up included a number of tests like recording of blood pressure, ECG, TMT, echocardiography, lipid profile, X-Ray chest and blood sugar - fasting as well as PP (two hours after breakfast), and a consultation by a cardiologist and a dietician.

"High blood pressure is called a silent killer because it usually does not present any symptoms. Undetected and untreated High BP has an adverse effect on all vital organs of the body, including the heart."

Dr Rajput stressed that total cholesterol and lipid profile of a person should be normal to prevent atherosclerotic heart disease. If tests revealed high levels of cholesterol, the patient should be advised diet modification and increased physical activity. In some cases, it may be necessary to prescribe medicines to patients in order to control cholesterol levels.

X-Ray chest, she added, was a pointer to the size and shape of the heart and the great blood vessels. "Cardio-thoracic ratio is widely used to see whether cardio-megaly (enlargement of the heart) has occurred. Usually, the size of the heart is less than 50 per cent of the internal diameter of the chest. Cardio-megaly can occur as a result of dilation of cardiac chambers or pericardial effusion. Chamber dilation can occur because of valvular involvement, heart failure or Ischemic Heart disease"

According to Dr Rajput, it was important to know the blood sugar levels of a person because diabetics were more prone to develop heart disease. Investigation of fasting and PP blood sugar levels helped to detect diabetes in asymptomatic people (those who do not have any typical symptoms of diabetes like excessive hunger and thirst, and excessive urination).

New multi-speciality centre becomes operational
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 25
A new trauma and super-speciality hospital 'Ludhiana Neuro and Trauma Centre' today became operational at Shingar Cinema Road (near PNB) here. The centre will provide tertiary care with ICU, equipped with latest ventilator support and highly trained professionals.

Mr A. Venu Prasad, Deputy Commissioner, Jalandhar, and Mr Chander Shekhar, ADGP (Law and Order), inaugurated the trauma centre. Dr O.P.S Kande and Dr R.C Garg, both former presidents of the Indian Medical Association, Punjab, were also present on the occasion.

According to Dr Gursharan Singh, who has promoted the super-speciality centre with Dr Mahesh Gupta and Dr Naresh Kalra, need was being felt for an advanced trauma and intensive care centre in the old city. "We intend to provide state-of-the-art medical and surgical facilities to the people at affordable prices."

The centre will have an operation theatre fully equipped to handle acute trauma of the head, neck, face and bones. "Time period between the injury and treatment is very important and we shall be trying to reduce the time gap between the injury and medical assistance with strategic location of the centre right at Samrala Chowk where three main roads converge," said Dr Gursharan Singh.

Dr Sanjiv Rajput, a neuro-surgeon and Dr Gautam and Dr H.S. Ghumman, both highly skilled orthopaedic surgeons would be available in OPDs and for in-patients on a regular basis.

Dr Iqbal discharged after angioplasty
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana December 25
Eminent gyanaecologist and one of the pioneers of test tube baby in the country was discharged today from the Hero DMC Heart Centre. He was admitted to the Heart Centre on December 20 after he complained of chest pain. Angioplasty was performed on him by a team of doctors led by the Chief Cardiologist, Dr G.S Wander and Dr Vishwa Mohan.

Expressing gratitude to the doctors, he said, he had found the best cardiac services he said, "being a doctor myself, I could appreciate it better as the medical services, including the nursing care, was among the best in the country". These are second to none, he remarked.

Dr Wander said, Dr Iqbal would be fit to resume his normal routine and work within one week.

SPORTS

All-India Postal Sportspersons Association
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, December 25
The newly-formed All-India Postal Sportspersons’ Association held its meeting here yesterday . Sportspersons from all postal circles, who took part in various meets of the Postal Department, attended the meeting.

It was resolved at the meeting to promote sports. After the meeting, Mr Manmohan Mishra, general secretary of the association, said Mr Anil Dubey of the Rajasthan circle had been elected president unanimously.

The other office-bearers are: Mr J S Ubee and Mr Dalip Chopra of Punjab circle- working presidents; Mr R Jawelo of Tamil Nadu circle and Mr Harry Charles- vice presidents; Mr P S Bhandari of UP circle- deputy general secretary; Mr M Dipesh Singh of Andhra Pradesh circle, Mr Feroz Khan of Madhya Pradesh circle and Mr Mehar Gandhi of Gujrat circle- assistant general secretaries.

Mr Alkesh Saini of the Himachal Pradesh circle- treasuer; Mr Yashpal of Punjab circle- assistant treasuer; Mr Arun Sharma of Punjab circle, Mr Hardeep Singh Saini of Delhi circle and Mr Naresh Kumar Sharma of Punjab circle- organising secretaries and Mr Tejinder Singh of Punjab circle- auditor.