Heart Awareness program was organized by Fortis Hospital

Tue, Mar 10, 2015 at 1:39 PM
Heart Saving Tips explained By Dr.Paramdeep Singh Sandhu

Ludhiana, 10^th March, 2015: (Shalu Arora//Punjab Screen): 

Heart Awareness program was organized by Fortis Hospital, Ludhiana. More than­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ 80 patients and their relatives attended the programme. Separate rounds of Interaction were held and a lot of queries regarding Heart problems were resolved. The whole session was followed by question-answer round on various scenarios of daily life.

Programme was held under the supervision of Dr.Sandhu. Giving information regarding heart attack and their causes Dr.Paramdeep Sandhu Consultant Cardiology, Fortis Hospital, Ludhiana said

• Forty per cent patients with heart attacks in India are less than 40 years of age. In contrast, only 4 per cent patients with heart attacks in Caucasians are less than 40 years of age.

• Regular exercise for at least 30 minutes every day, consuming 5 to 6 servings of fruits and green vegetables, consuming 1 to 2 alcoholic drinks per day give protection against heart attacks.

• Smoking more than 20 cigarettes or bidis per day increase the risk of heart attack by 5 times, 10 to 19 cigarettes or bidis increases the risk by 3 times. Quitting smoking at any age nullifies this risk in 3 years. Even reducing smoking to a minimum helps.

• If you are a diabetic your chance of having a heart attack in the next 7 years is 10 times more than a non-diabetic, everything remaining the same.

• All diabetics more than 30 years of age must take 75 mgs of aspirin, atorvastatin or simvastatin in appropriate dose and measures to keep blood pressure less than 130/80 mms Hg besides a meticulous sugar control under medical supervision. This minimises the heightened risk.

• Psycho-social stress is an important risk factor in the causation of heart attacks. It leads to increased secretion of adrenalin, chronic stress raises the blood pressure, invites diabetes and constricts the arteries of heart.

• Pollution with finely particulated fumes leads to heart attacks. These fumes bypass the filtration process of the lungs and set up inflammation at vulnerable points in blood vessels, especially of the heart, and can lead to sudden clotting of blood leading to a heart attack.

• Illnesses like influenza, common during season change, may cause heart attack in high risk individuals. Inflammation produced by these illnesses can lead to swelling spreading to arteries of the heart and lead to heart attacks. The smoke and smog in these seasons, especially during winter, is also unhealthy for the heart.

• The first few hours after sustaining a heart attack are crucial for recognition and treatment. Treating a heart attack within first 2 to 3 hours can reduce the chances of dying from 15 per cent to 3 per cent.

• One tablet of aspirin chewed as soon as possible after a heart attack reduces the chances of dying by 15 per cent. Even a strong suspicion of a heart attack (chest discomfort lasting for more than 10 to 15 minutes associated with shortness of breath, profuse sweating etc) is enough evidence to administer this wonder drug.

• The normal blood pressure at all ages is less than 120/80 mms Hg. Every 20 mms increase in systolic and 10 mms diastolic pressure beyond this level doubles the risk of a heart attack and stroke.

• Reducing BP by 2 mms Hg reduces the chance of dying of a heart attack by 7 per cent and brain stroke by 10 per cent.

• Low levels of good cholesterol (HDL cholesterol) are associated with higher chance of getting a heart attack. Forty per cent Indians have low levels of HDL cholesterol. The levels of less than 40 mgs in men and 50 mgs in women are defined as low levels.

Increasing HDL cholesterol reduces this heightened risk. 1mg increase in HDL cholesterol is associated with 6% reduction in dying from a heart attack.

Methods to increase HDL cholesterol are regular exercise, weight reduction, and increase in consumption of omega 3 fatty acids (olive oil, mustard oil, almonds, walnuts, cold water fish like salmon, trout etc) and alcohol in moderation.

Also present on the occasion were Mr.Vivan Gill, Facility Director, Dr.Harpreet Brar, Admin Head, Fortis Hospital, Ludhiana.