Dr K K Aggarwal awarded with Dr. B.C. Roy National Award alongwith other Doctors

Indexed National Journals and over 350 publications in review Indian Journals.

The list of awards he has got during his career is indeed endless. Some of these include Dr. D S Mungekar National IMA Award; DMA Swasthya Health Ratna 2005-06, DMA Nursing Home Forum Medical Statesman and Communicator of the Last Decade 2005-6; DMA Dr. B N Behl Foundation Award; Cardiology Society of India Mumbai Branch Dr KK Datey Oration; Rajiv Gandhi Excellence Award; Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini Award; Delhi Hindi Sahitya Samellan - Sahitya Shree Award (Doctor and Philosopher of Indian Culture); Rashtriya Gaurav Samman; Abhipra Samaj Seva Puraskar; The Great Son of the Soil Award; IMA New Delhi Branch Swasthya Ratna Award; IMANDB Life Style Interventional Cardiologist of the Last Decade Award;  IMANDB Life Time Achievement Award and IMANDB Health Communicator of the Last Decade Award.

5% RESERVATION IN ADMISSIONS FOR OBCs IN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS UNDER DELHI GOVERNMENT

The Delhi Cabinet has given its nod for five per cent reservation in admissions for OBCs in educational institutions i.e. technical and higher educational institutions under Delhi Government. It has also given its approval for reduction in Entertainment Tax on Cinema in the Capital-city. The decisions were taken in a Cabinet Meeting today presided over by the Delhi Chief Minister Smt. Sheila Dikshit.

While briefing media after the Cabinet Meeting Smt. Dikshit stated that present quota of reservation for SCs/STs would remain same while granting five per cent reservation to OBCs in admissions w.e.f. this academic session. The government would enhance number of seats by 10%. It would also ensure that OBCs get their share of 27% reservation within five year of implementation of the decision. The reservation of 27% for OBCs is being implemented in phases and would be fully implemented by 2012-13 beginning from the Academic Year 2008-09. Following this pattern 27% reservation to OBCs would require an increase in the total number of seats by 54%, so that the overall opportunities available to general category candidates do not get diminished. The reservation would be applicable in all diploma, undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate levels. Smt. Dikshit stated that a Bill- The Delhi Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission Bill), 2008 for this purpose would be introduced in the Legislative Assembly. She expressed confidence that this would go a long way in providing reasonable opportunities of technical and higher education to OBCs in the Capital-city.

Smt. Dikshit further stated that the Cabinet has decided to slash Entertainment Tax on Cinemas including Theatres and Multiplexes from existing 30% to 20%. It may be recalled that the Entertainment Tax on cinema was 60 percent upto 31st March, 2003. It was reduced by half i.e. 30 percent only w.e.f. 1st April, 2003. Smt. Dikshit expressed confidence that reduction in entertainment tax would benefit the general public. There are at present 56 cinema halls in Delhi out of which 17 are multiplexes and total number of screens is 99. Entertainment tax from cinema sector is 17 percent of the total entertainment tax collections per year. 17 multiplexes account for 80 percent of the total entertainment tax collected from cinemas. The collection of entertainment tax from cinemas including theaters and multiplexes has gone up from 23.65 crore in 2005-06, to Rs. 29.89 crore in 2006-07 and Rs. 38.07 crore in 2007-08. Smt. Dikshit stated that a notification is being issued under the Delhi Entertainment and Betting Tax Act, 1996.

Silent brain attack

Silent brain attacks can occur in up to 10% of older individuals said Dr KK Aggarwal President Heart Care Foundation of India.. In a study of 2,040 people, average age 62, in the long-running Framingham Offspring Study, MRI scans showed that 10.7 percent of them had experienced a silent brain infarct. It's the cerebral equivalent of silent heart attack. A silent stroke is different from a transient ischemic attack (TIA), a momentary loss of brain function. A TIA causes some symptoms, while a silent stroke, by definition, doesn't. But both are warning signs to pay attention to the well-known risk factors for stroke, such as cholesterol levels, blood pressure, obesity and smoking, she said. The report was published in the online issue of *Stroke*. The effects of a silent brain infarct show up on an MRI scan as "small lesions in various parts of the brain. MRI scans give no clues as to when the silent stroke occurred. The prevention lies in modifying risk factors. If you don't have risk factors such as high cholesterol, obesity and diabetes, try to keep yourself out of the group that does. If you do, modify them by keeping blood pressure and cholesterol down, things like that.

yncope is not different from sudden death, the exception is you get up from syncope

Transient reversible loss of consciousness should not be ignored. It may be suggestive of severe underlying heart disease which may result in to sudden cardiac death, said Dr. K.K. Aggarwal, Head, Department of Cardiology and Dean, Board of Medical Education, Moolchand Heart Hospital, while conducting a workshop for medical doctors held at the hospital here today.

Other faculty who participated in the workshop were Dr. H.K. Chopra,
Dr. Saket Bhardwaj and Dr. R.D. Yadav.

In younger people, transient loss of consciousness may be due to vasovogal response where a person may have either fall in heart-rate or a drop in blood pressure in response to stimuli like prolonged standing at 60 to 80 degree, sight of blood, smell of the hospital environment or dehydration.

Tilt test done in cardiology lab is diagnostic in such cases.

Other cases of syncope are related to blockages in the heart arteries. The cause often is irregular heart rhythm which can be either lower than the normal or a very high irregular heart rhythm.

While lower heart rhythm may require a pacemaker, a  higher heart rhythm either requires a drug or an implantable electrical shock machine in the heart.

To prevent sudden cardiac death all patients of heart attack with heart functioning less than 35% should be evaluated properly.

Many people may have syncopal attacks during passing motion, passing urine or after eating tobacco. The offending agents in such cases should be eliminated.

Over 170 medical practitioners participated in the workshop.

B.D.S. 5 Years course Now,No Fee Hike

The Dental Council of India clarified that there has been no increase in the Fee Structure of its 5 years B.D.S Programme – as the DCI has only integrated internship programme in 5 yrs course (Earlier it was 4+ 1 years internship). The President Dental Council of India Dr. Anil Kohli said that " We have received few complaints that some Private Dental Colleges have hiked their fee for the 5 year B.D.S Programme which is not true, but in reality the DCI has only changed the format of BDS and fee part is not touched at all." On the other hand Private Dental College representative said that "We have to give extra 1 year salary to the staff & extra use of infrastructure, stay in the college. Who will bear that extra burden." Dr Anil Chandna, Member DCI, clarified that Internship is integrated in 5 years period. So the Private college don't have to pay the stipend to the students, as they used to. The stipend use to be from Rs. 4000/- to 5000/- per student. He further said that we have increased extra hours of lecturing and clinical hours ( to adjust the internship time) and extended into 5th year. Dr. Anil Kohli said " This will also ensure that the internship period is not misused by students and they get enough time to study". Dr Anil Chandna, Member DCI, further said that " considering the benefit of students and improvement in Dental Education, it is need of the hour that we must equip our students with important technical know-how to excel in the new technologies implant, cosmetic dentistry, laser dentistry and other latest innovation in dentistry and use them for the benefit of the people of India. The DCI has emphasised colleges can't ask for extra fee " Any student or Parent who is asked for extra fee should come forward to inform the matter to DCI, which will immediately take action against the college" Dr. Anil Kohli said. Dr. Anil Chandna Member Dental Council 9868251414

Heart Care Foundation of India Help-line 9958771177

Heart Care Foundation of India launched Help-line 9958771177 which will answer queries on cardiovascular preventions with focus on weight reduction and heart friendly diet.

Addressing a Press Conference in the city here today, Dr. K.K Aggarwal, President, Heart Care Foundation of India, said that qualified experts will answer queries from 8 am to 8 pm on all working days. There will be no charges for the call.

Dr. Aggarwal said that most heart diseases are self-inflicted and can be prevented and/or reversed by proper life-style management. Reducing weight by 10% can reduce the risk of heart-attack substantially.

Noted model, Ms Priyanka Sharma, and eminent designer Mr Rahul Jain of the brand Sirali, jointly released the Help line Number. Addressing the media they said that to become a celebrity, one need to be a role model to the society which can only be done by adapting to a healthy life-style.

Eating fruits and vegetables, a high fiber diet, low in saturated fat and zero-intrans fat can prevent diabetes and heart disease said Dr Aparna Jaswal, Consultant Cardiologist & Electro physiologist.

Following facts were released about heart disease:

A 5mm reduction in lower blood pressure is associated with 33% reduction in paralysis
1% reduction in cholesterol can reduce chances of heart attack by 2%
1% increase in good HDL cholesterol can reduce chances of heart attack by 3%
Reducing salt intake to less than 6 gm per day can reduce Blood Pressure upto 8 mm/Hg
Brisk walking for 30 minutes a day can reduce Blood Pressure upto 9 mm/Hg
For every 10 kg weight loss Blood Pressure can be reduced upto 20 mm/Hg
Consuming a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, low fat dairy products with reduced content of saturated and total fat can reduce Blood Pressure upto 14 mm/Hg
For those who drink, limiting it to 24 gms of ethanol per day in a man can reduce Blood Pressure by upto 4 mm/Hg

Coffe in long term safe

Consumed in coffee, tea, soft drinks, and small amounts in chocolate, caffeine is the most widely used pharmacologically active substance in the world, said Dr KK Aggarwal Prersident Heart Care Foundation of India and Dean Board of Medical Education Moolchand Hsopital. Concerns regarding deleterious cardiovascular effects of caffeine have largely not been supported. Caffeine can acutely raise the blood pressure by as much as 10 mmHg in patients who are infrequently exposed. However, there is little or no effect on blood pressure in habitual coffee drinkers, nor does it appear to increase the risk of incident hypertension. There is no evidence that caffeine in doses typically consumed can provoke a spontaneous arrhythmia (iregular heart rhythm) in individuals with or without a history of cardiac arrhythmia, nor is there any protective effect of caffeine abstinence. With respect to coronary disease, the risk may be increased in individuals who are slow metabolizers of caffeine and drink two or more cups of coffee per day. . Ingestion of large quantities of caffeine may be associated with arrhythmic and cardiovascular events, especially in patients with underlying cardiac disease. Individuals with a history of cardiac arrhythmia or at increased risk for cardiovascular events moderate their caffeine intake from all sources. With warm and personal reagrds Dr K K Aggarwal President Heart Care Foundation of India Editor in Chief IJCP Group Dean Borad of Medical Education, Head Cardiology, Moolchand Medcity Hony. National Finanace Secretary IMA Member Delhi Medical Council 9811090206 Fax 26865644 " ABC of heart attack prevention, Keep your A1C < 6.5%, Abdominal circumference < 85 cm (M)80 cm (F), BP < 120/80 and LDL cholesterol < 100 mg% )

Normal weight abdominal obesity injurious to the heart

Obesity is prevalent, increasing, and troublesome in India said Dr. K K Aggarwal President Heart Care Foundation of India. Abdominal obesity is hazardous to health, at least in women. Five investigators at the National Institute of Health studied the risk of one form of obesity, that of the abdomen, in more than 44,000 women in the Nurses Health Study, for all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality. Reported in the journal Circulation in 2008, their study spanned 16 years of follow-up with 3500 deaths. After adjusting for body mass index and potential confounders, they found a significant increase in relative risk for increased waist circumference rising at the fifth quintile to 79% for all-cause, 63% for cancer, and 99% for cardiovascular mortality. Even normal-weight women with elevated waist circumference experienced a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular death. Normal values for the abdominal circumference are lower than 85 cm for men and 80cm for the women.

NEW ERA OF AIR-CONDITIONED CITY BUS TRANSPORT

Delhi Chief Minister Smt. Sheila Dikshit today flagged off eight magnificent, modern low floor air-conditioned buses of DTC in a simple function organised at India Gate. She described this as a new era of comfortable and convenient travel in Delhi. She stated that number of air-conditioned buses on Delhi roads would go upto 25 by this month end. She further promised to bring a sea-change in public transport system before commencement of Commonwealth Games 2010. The new air-conditioned buses have been introduced on Mudrika, Route No.522 from Dr. Ambedkar Terminal to Qutab Minar and Route No.534 from Anand Vihar ISBT to New Delhi Railway Station. She accompanied by Delhi Transport Minister Shri Haroon Yusuf also travelled in the air-conditioned bus.

Speaking on this occasion Smt. Dikshit stated that DTC is all set to introduce 10,000 new buses in phases in Delhi, which would include 1000 air-conditioned low floor buses and 250 air-conditioned semi-low floor buses. The green low floor buses of DTC are being preferred by the travellers. She reiterated commitment of her government to improve public transport system by introduction of modern buses so that people could prefer public transport instead of their personal vehicles. She further stated that Delhi Metro is fast expanding and would be able to ensure its services on all major routes before commencement of Commonwealth Games 2010. This would go a long way in saving substantial fuel and travel time.

Can diabetes be ward off

Adhering to Mediterranean diet, rich in fruits and vegetables and low in animal products, may protect one against developing type 2 diabetes said Dr K K Aggarwal President Heart Care Foundation of India quoting a Spanish study. The diet emphasizes olive oil, vegetables, fruits, nuts, cereals, legumes and fish, and deemphasizes meat and dairy products. It is a healthful eating plan that seems to help in the prevention of heart disease. I the study published in the British Medical Journal , researchers tracked the diets of 13,380 Spanish university graduates with no history of diabetes. Participants filled out a 136-item food questionnaire, which measured their entire diet (including their intake of fats), their cooking methods and their use of dietary supplements. During an average of 4.4 years of follow-up, the team found that people who adhered to a Mediterranean diet had a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. In fact, those who stuck very closely to the diet reduced their risk by 83 percent. Moreover, the people who tended to stick closest to the diet were those with factors that put them at the highest risk for developing diabetes, such as being older, having a family history of diabetes and being an ex-smoker. These people were expected to have a higher rate of diabetes, but when they adhered to the Mediterranean diet this was not the case. Type 2 diabetes is typically brought on by poor eating habits, too much weight and too little exercise. One key factor that might be responsible for the protective effect of the Mediterranean diet is its emphasis on olive oil for cooking, frying, putting on bread and mixing in salad dressings. Preventing diabetes- TIPS 1. Eat less 2. Omit refined carbohydrates ( white sugar, white rice and white maida) 3. Use olive oil, vegetables, fruits, nuts, cereals, legumes and fish, and reduce meat and dairy products.

AN4OTHER PHASE OF PULSE POLIO LAUNCHED

Health Minister Dr. Yoganand Shastri today exhorted all parents to bring their children for immunization against polio on 1st June, 2008 when a special immunization programme would be organized to administer anti-polio drops to more than 25 lac children in Delhi for which more than 7500 booths are being established. Children upto five years would be administered drops by health workers and other agencies including NGOs. Dr. Shastri was speaking after launch of another phase of Special Intensified Pulse Polio Immunization Programme (PPIP) at residence of Delhi Chief Minister today. Dr. Shastri administered drops to number of kids. Speaking on this occasion, Dr. Shastri said that Delhi would continue to strive hard to completely eliminate polio, which seems to be imminent in coming months. Delhi was first to initiate Pulse Polio Immunization Programme and would like to lead in elimination of this disease which not only hampers physical and mental growth of children but also make them handicapped for rest of their lives. Delhi initiated Pulse Polio Immunization Programme in the year 1994 and launched house-to-house search and immunize component in the year 1999. Delhi is also pioneer in bringing awareness about this disease and suitable emphasis is given on publicity of the programme by installing banners, posters and use of electronic media and print media. Dr. Shastri added that more than 7500 Polio Booths would be established tomorrow to administer Polio vaccine to lacs of children of 0-5 age group. Around 30,000 workers and employees of the Health Department would be deployed to ensure maximum reach from 9.00 AM to 4.00 PM. The stalls would be stationed at Railway Stations, ISBTs, Public places including Appu Ghar, major temples, Metro Stations, Millennium Park, Zoo etc. Apart from this, a door-to-door weeklong survey would also be conducted under search and immunization Pulse Polio Campaign. Around 17,000 workers in 8600 teams would visit different colonies including Slum and JJ Clusters to make search of left over cases and administer Polio Drops to those children.

Indians most affected by heart disease

An Indian doctor settled in US is 17 times more likely to suffer a heart attack than an US doctor settled in US said Dr K K Aggarwal President Heart Care Foundation of India and Head Cardiology Moolchand Medicity . By 2010, India will bear 60% of the worlds CAD burden. 0AThe foundation today released some of the alarming statistics regarding Indians and heart disease.

1. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD ) strikes South Asians at a four-fold rate compared to the general population. This holds true even for lifelong vegetarians who do not smoke and are not overweight.

2. As per British Heart Foundation death rate from coronary heart disease is 46% higher in South Asian men and 51% higher in South Asian women than the UK population as a whole.

3. 10-12% of the South Asian population in urban areas globally and 4% in rural areas are afflicted with this disease.

4. South Asians in the United States and in urban India suffer heart attacks at an earlier age, often with out prior symptoms or warning.

5. A study among Asian Indian men showed that half of all heart attacks in this population occur under the age of 50 years, and 25% under the age of 40.

6. More than 30% of deaths from heart attacks in South Asians occur in those younger than 65 years of age, a rate double that of the U.S. national average.

7. South Asian women also have one of the highest mortality rates due to CAD.
8. Recent findings from the 1990-2000 California Census data showed that all ethnic minority women were living longer except South Asian wo
men.

9. Asian Indians have the highest rates of hospitalization in California for CAD. At El Camino Hospital alone, over the past two years , a significant 5% of the patients that walked into the ER with a heart att ack were South Asian, while the South Asian population of the area is just

Leech therapy

Blood-sucking leeches - used for thousands of years in ayurvedic medicine –also approved by US FDA are a tool for healing skin grafts or restoring
circulation said Dr K K Aggarwal President Heart Care Foundation of India and Head Cardiology Moolchand Medicity..
Doctors have used the small aquatic worms for several thousand years in the belief that bloodletting helps to cure a wide range of complaints from headaches to gout. They reached their height of medicinal use in the mid-1800s. Today, doctors around the world use leeches to remove blood pooled under skin grafts for burn patients, or to restore circulation in blocked veins by removing pooled blood.
Leeches are particularly useful in surgeries to reattach body parts such as fingers or ears.
The leeches can help restore blood flow to reconnected veins. FDA has approved leeches as a medical device. When leeches begin feeding, they inject salivary components (e.g., hirudin) that inhibit both platelet aggregation and the coagulation cascade. This results in a marked relief of venous congestion. The anti-coagulant causes the bite to ooze for up to 48 hours following detachment, further relieving venous congestion. By feeding for 10 to 60 minutes, leeches consume from 1 to 2 teaspoons of blood. Results from clinical studies showed that the success rate of salvaging tissue with medicinal
leech therapy is 70 to 80%.
Indications
1. Poor venous drainage (venous congestion/venous outflow obstruction); or
2. Salvage of vascularly compromised flaps (muscle, skin, and fat tissue surgically removed from one part of body to another).
3. Salvage of vascularly compromised replants (limbs or other body parts re-attached after traumatic amputation).
4. Knee osteoarthritis, inadequate arterial supply or tissue ischemia, and for all other indications.

France offers assistance to undertake survey and study for Tramways in Delhi.

France has expressed its keenness to have technical co-operation with Delhi and collaborate in various fields with city state of Delhi. This was stated today by French Transport Minister Shri Dominique Bussecreau who called on Delhi Chief Minister Smt. Sheila Dikshit in her office at Delhi Secretariat. He further offered possible funding assistance to undertake a detailed survey and study for commissioning of tramways in Delhi, which he stated would go a long way in making Public Transport System more reliable in the capital city. He added that tramways have been successful in various French Cities.

Visiting Minister took keen interest in infrastructural developmental projects related to ensuing Commonwealth Games 2010. He complimented role of the City Government in extending green cover and successful commissioning of CNG mode of public transport and Delhi Metro. He apprised Delhi Chief Minister about initiatives being taken by French government in curbing pollution. The initiatives includes free cycle service, electrical cars and hybrid Cars. France would take over as chairman of European Union on Ist July,2008. He further stated that issues related to green transport and
sustainable development would be discussed in conference on Urban Mobility scheduled to start in June,2008 in France.

Smt. Dikshit apprised him about administrative structure of Delhi which is a city state and seat of power of the Union Government. Her government is committed to develop Public Transport System in such a day to encourage people to make use of public transport in large number and stop bringing
their private vehicles on roads which are getting decongested day by day. One fifth of area of Delhi is covered by roads. Smt. Dikshit stated that Delhi
Metro route would cover length of 270 KM during next two years. The concept of Mono-Rail and light rail is being considered. Smt. Dikshit stressed need of integrating different modes of Public Transport. She expressed commitment of her government in extending green cover in Delhi and it would not like to lose green cover at the cost of infrastructural development.

Women should quit smoking to lower their risk of heart disese

Smoking is still the leading preventable cause of death. Not only does tobacco smoke cause lung cancer, it is also implicated in heart disease, other cancers and respiratory diseases. As per WHO an estimated 3 million people in industrialized countries will have died as a result of tobacco use by 2030, and an additional 7 million people in developing countries face the same fate.The harms of smoking are reversible and can decline to the level of nonsmokers, as per a report in Journal of the American Medical Association, said Dr K K Aggarwal President Heart Care Foundation of India.Women who quit smoking have a 21 percent lower risk of dying from coronary heart disease within five years of quitting their last cigarette. The risks of dying from other conditions also decline after quitting, although the time frame varies depending on the disease. For chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, it may take up to 20 years.It's never too early to stop, and it's never too late to stop.Current smokers have almost triple the risk of overall death compared with non smoker women. Current smokers also have a 63 percent increased risk for colon cancer compared with never-smokers, while former smokers have a 23 percent increased risk. There was no significant association between smoking and ovarian cancer.Women who started smoking earlier in life are at a higher risk for overall mortality, of dying from respiratory disease and from any smoking-related disease. However, a smoker's overall risk of dying returns to the level of a never-smoker 20 years after quitting. The overall risk decline 13 percent within the first five years of abstaining. Most of the excess risk of dying from coronary heart disease vanishes within five years of quitting. For chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the return to normal takes 20 years, although there is an 18 percent reduction in the risk of death seen within five to 10 years after quitting.And the risk for lung cancer does not return to normal for 30 years after quitting, although there is a 21 percent reduction in risk within the first five years.

Heart disease may present with asthma like symptoms

Heart disease may present with asthma like symptoms said Dr K K Aggarwal President Heart Care Foundation of India and Finance Secretary Indian Medical Association. Dr. Aggarwal said that the commonest cause of breathlessness is not asthma. Both obesity and anemia can cause exertional breathlessness.Apart uncontrolled blood pressure, diastolic dysfunction of the heart and enlarged heart all can cause breathlessness.

The thumb rule is that any breathlessness appearing for the first time in life after the age of 40 is cardiac in nature unless proved otherwise. Impaired relaxation functions of the heart are a new epidemic of the society where the heart arteries do not have any blockages but the heart can not relax properly. Diastolic functions of the heart can be evaluated by tissue Doppler echocardiography examination. Ordinary echo exam will miss the diagnosis as it usually detects the contracting systolic functions of the heart.

Guidelines on sudden cardiac death

Sudden cardiac death is death occuring within an hour of the symptoms of heart disease and includes night deaths on the bed. It has been estimated that over 24 lac people die in India every year with sudden cardiac death. 75% of them die before reaching the hospital.
A large number of such deaths can be prevented if the public is educated about cardiac cardiac revival and the high risk affording individuals are put on ICD.
ICD or automatic internal electric shock giving pacemaker is the treatment of choice for those who can afford to prevent sudden cardiac death is high risk individuals.
The same is also reimbursable under public sector
companies, CGHS. Not advising the devise who needs may amount to medical error said Dr K K Aggarwal head cardiology Moolch and Hospital and President Heart Care Foundation of India.
Regarding patients without heart attack, Dr Aggarwal said that all symptomatic affording patients with enlarged low functioning heart (ejection fraction <35%) and normal coronary arteries should be put on ICD. And if there is also associated widening of QRS in the ECG of ¡Ý120 msec, one should implant a combined CRT-D device (biventricular pacing combined with an ICD). Some experts, and the 2006 American heart guidelines also recommend ICD implantation in asymptomatic patients with low heart functioning, ejection fraction between 30-35%.
After a heart attack, all affording patients after 40 days of heart attack or three months of post angioplasty or bypass surgery with heart functioning of less than 30% be implanted with ICD. ICD is also recommended if the heart functioning is between 30-35% and the patient is symptomatic.
In patients with heart functioning of >40%, periodic Holter monitoring should be done and if abnormal ICD should be advised.

Silence the best answer for creativity: RAKESH MEHTA

EARTH DAY CELEBRATED

Dr Shastri said that the effect of global warming has started showing its impact on the health as incidence of diseases are on the rise world wide and India is no exception and unless preventive strategies are taken at this hour, situation may go out of control in the coming years. Dr K K Aggarwal, President Heart Care Foundation of India, observed that rising problem of heat, dengue and malaria in the country, is an indicator that climatic changes that are happening at a rapid pace than what the scientists had estimated earlier, is the reason behind this change in the pattern of incidence of these diseases and is of deep concern to the medical fraternity. Dr Aggarwal urged the schools to participate actively in conducting such awareness programs involving their children as part of their curriculum. Speaking on the occasion,Sh R C Meena Director, Ministry of
Environment & Forests Govt.of India, said the ministry will be willing to support all such environment oriented educational programs imed at educating the general public on reducing the global warming in the country. Mr M I Hussain, Principal DPS said that his school being one of the lead eco club school of Delhi state, will continue to take up all environment related activities and also urged children from other schools who had come to participate ,to help their parents in conserving energy. Children displayed the placards with slogans likePollution! Pollution! Is there any solution? Save us please - in the march etc. in the walk.

World Earth Day 22 April 08: Global warming with respect to India

New Delhi: Heart Care Foundation of India will exhibit special panels on global warming and its impact on health on world earth day falling on 2nd April.The function will be organized at DPS Mathura road in the form of walk, exhibition and on the spot competitions. Talking about the impact of global warming on health Dr K K Aggarwal president Heart Care Foundation of India said that with warmer weather the mosquitoes' breeding cycles will shorten allowing them to multiply at a much faster rate. Malaria will start climbing mountains; there will be a change for the flu season and one may begin to see influenza year- round; diseases like dengue and chikungunya will rise and spread year long, new diseases like encephalitis will be on the rise and more people will die of heat stokes. The NGO's, schools, colleges and state governments must form global warming departments and spread awareness on the subject. The goal should be to bring global
warming under control by curtailing the release of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping "greenhouse" gases into the atmosphere.
Making energy conservation a part of our daily awareness is essential to the goal of reducing global warming. However the best step still remains is to plant more trees.

AVOID SUN STROKE TO PREVENT HEART ATTACK

15 minutes of sun exposure must and Best time to have a heart attack is week days are the two main highlights of medical news this wek of importance to India said Dr K K Aggarwal President heart care foundation of india. 15 minutes of sun exposure must: New research by Dr. Michal Melamed, at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City has discovered that people with low blood levels of vitamin D were found to have a higher incidence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), potentially dangerous blockages in the leg arteries. The study of nearly 4,900 American adults found more than double the incidence of PAD among those with the lowest levels of vitamin D compared to those with the highest levels.
Vitamin D is made when the body is exposed to sunlight. Current guidelines recommend a vitamin D intake of 400 International Units a day for people aged
50 and older. In addition to sunlight, other sources of the vitamin are salmon, sardines, cod liver oil, fortified milk and some fortified cereals. Exposure to sunlight "always calls for a balance. Overexposure raises the risk of skin cancer.
The recommendation about 10 to 15 minutes of direct exposure. Best time to have a heart attack is week days: Your chances for surviving a cardiac arrest are 13.4 percent worse if you are admitted to the hospital on the weekend versus a weekday. Even after taking into account factors such as hospital size and location and the person's age, gender and other illnesses, the lower survival rate remains the same. "A higher death rate among patients admitted on weekends may be due to lack of resources for treating cardiac arrest," as per the study author Richard M. Dubinsky, of the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City. The findings come from researchers analyzing a national database containing a 20 percent sampling of all U.S. hospital admissions for cardiac arrest from 1990 to 2004. The analysis included 67,554 admissions. During cardiac arrest, the heart slows or stops working, and brain death can occur in just four to six minutes.

De-stressing for Doctors

Inaugurating the two days’ workshop on Stress
Management for doctors organized by the Heart Care Foundation of India in association with IMA New Delhi Branch, IMA South Delhi Branch, IMA Janakpuri Branch and Prajapati Brahmkumaries held at OM Shanti Retreat Centre, Dr. K.K. Aggarwal, President, Heart are Foundation of India said that the stress level among doctors is much higher than in the general public.

It is evident from the fact that during student life – during medical school and residency life, maximum number of suicide scenes are amongst doctors. Smoking alcohol and drugs are also rampant in the medical profession, both during study period and later.

The rising incidences of litigations by private practitioners and low pay-scales for residents and doctors in government jobs are the main causes of stress among medical professionals. Unless doctors are themselves relaxed, it is difficult for them to make their patients feel relaxed. One of the way of easing tension amongst doctors is to smoke or drink alcohol.

Manage stress to reduce chances of heart attack

Keeping stress levels under control can significantly reduce the risk of a heart attack or death in patients with coronary artery disease.
"If we can lower heart patients anxiety level, we may be able to reduce their risk of heart attack and prolong their life," is what the results of an observational by Yinong Young-Xu of Brookline, Mass.The research, examined 516 patients with coronary artery disease. Those who reduced or kept their anxiety level steady were as much as 60 percent less likely to have a heart attack or die compared to those who had an increase in anxiety level.
This ratio remained steady after adjusting for other potential cardiovascular risk factors including age, sex, education, marital status, smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, previous heart attack, body mass index, total cholesterol, blood pressure, heart rate, ejection fraction and exercise treadmill test duration.
Patients were divided into three groups according to their baseline level of anxiety -- high, intermediate and low.
Researchers asked patients about their feelings and moods, sleep patterns, irregularity in bowel or stomach functions and other stress markers. In addition to anxiety, the questionnaire also measured depression, hostility and physical complaints.
Lifetime prevalence of anxiety disorder is around 30 percent among people with heart disease.

Ideal sleep time: eight hours
HCFI, New Delhi

People who sleep less than 7 hours or more than 9 hours a night gain more weight over time and become obese than individuals who log 8 hours every night.
People who want to lose weight or prevent weight gain not only should exercise and eat well, but also sleep well saidn Dr K K Aggarwal President Heart Care Foundation of India.
In a study by Dr. Angelo Tremblay, of Laval University in Quebec City, published in the April issue of the journal sleep the researchers followed 276 men and women for 6 years. During that time, people who averaged 5 to 6 hours of shuteye a night gained 1.98 kilograms more than those who slept 7 to 8 hours, while those who slept for 9 to 10 hours gained 1.58 kilograms more than the average-length sleepers.
Short and long sleepers also showed greater gains in fat mass and waist circumference than average-length sleepers, and were significantly more likely to gain 5 kilograms or more.
Getting too much or too little sleep somehow disrupts appetite control by causing a reduction in leptin, a hormone that dampens appetite, while increasing secretions of the appetite-stimulating hormone ghrelin.
Short and long sleepers were also more prone to hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, than average sleepers, which could increase appetite as well.