Avoiding winter heart attacks, winter Cardiovascular Diseases Phenomenon-Need to create awareness: Dr Sushil
STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: In view of recent climate change and upcoming winter season Head Department of Cardiology GMCH Jammu Dr Sushil Sharma in collaboration with Amarujala held a day long cardiac awareness cum health Check up camp at Panchayat Gho Brahmana Block Ramgarh, Samba with main focus on the ways to reduce the impact of winter season on cardiac ailments and decrease the morbidity and mortality. While interacting with the people, Dr Sushil stated that Cardiovascular diseases is the number one cause of death worldwide. Seasonal variation in morbidity and mortality due to CVDs has been noted in both the northern and southern hemispheres, with higher incidence rates during the winter than in the summer. This variation linked with multiple risk factors, such as temperature, physical activity, air pollution, infections, and food habits. Another potentially important seasonal risk factors such as seasonal variation in the plasma level of fibrinogen, cholesterol, Hormones and vasoactive substance including vasopressin (AVP), norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E) and angiotensin II, aldosterone and catecholamine which tends to rise in the winter is suggested to play an important role in the seasonal change of CVDs. However, the influence of these factors on the onset and course of cardiovascular events is not well understood. Several mechanisms have been suggested to explain this association.
He elaborated that the seasonal variability of CVDs is quite clearly demonstrated by the epidemiological data; showing mostly a peak in winter months. The exact cause of CVDs seasonality is not known clearly. However, many theories have been given to explain the possible reasons underlying the development of a disease in winter more than other time in year. People should be informed of the increased risk of cardiovascular disease during the cold seasons, and educated about the importance of regular physical activity and dressing warmly in winter. Furthermore, people should be motivated to maintain health dietary habits including a nutrient rich in vitamin D and low fat intake.
He stressed that People who are at a high risk of a heart attack in winter are Those with a prior history of heart problems, Those who have had a heart attack previously, Those with high blood pressure and high cholesterol, Smokers and heavy drinkers and people with sedentary lifestyle. He advised people to Manage Heart Attack in the Cold Weather and give some tips like If you go outside, limit the time you spend out in the cold weather, dress warmly, in several layers, cover your head and hands, and wear warm socks and shoes. Get a flu shot: Winter also raises your chances of getting the flu due to low humidity carried on by cold weather and indoor heating. The flu is potentially harmful to anyone with heart disease, He Said. Prominent members of the area Ram Paul Sharma (Sarpanch), Mukesh Sharma, Parshotam Singh, Shamsher Singh, Satpal Sharma, Rajni Sharma and Vikas Sharma appreciated the efforts of Dr Sushil and his team for conducting Cardiac Awareness cum health check up camp in their area.
Others who were part of this Camp includes Dr Yaswant Sharma and Dr Dhaneshwer Kapoor. Paramedics and volunteers includes Kamal Sharma, Faisal Rashid , Rohit Nayyar, Arun Singh , Rahul Sharma, Paramveer Singh, Jatin Bhasin ,Rajkumar, Ranjeet Singh, Rajinder Singh and Vikas Kumar.
