Mega Health Check-up Camp in loving Memory of Yashpal Sharma organized
STATE TIMES NEWS
POONCH: In an emotional tribute to late Yashpal Sharma (Former MLC, J&K) and in recognition of his contribution to the welfare of masses in every field including education and healthcare, Head of Department (HoD) of Cardiology, GMCH Jammu, Dr Sushil Sharma held a day long camp at Navgreh Mandir Ajote in district Poonch.
The camp was inaugurated by Sunil kumar Sharma (Chairman Municipal Council Poonch) along with Dr Sushil and prominent councillors of Municipal Council Poonch Naresh Kumar, Sanjay Khajuria and Parminder Singh. The main aim was to spread the awareness regarding cardiac ailments in the rural population and to screen high risk individuals and advise them to refrain from sedentary lifestyle which is now becoming more common in rural population. More than 1000 people were screened, evaluated, diagnosed and free medicines were given as per the requirements.
While interacting with the people, Dr Sushil stated that the cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of mortality among middle aged and older adults in India, with current prevalence estimates of 10-12% in urban and 4-5% in rural adults.
It is now well known that conventional risk factors (smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, dyslipidemia, unhealthy diet, and reduced physical activity) together account for more than 95% of population-attributable risk for CVD, and novel risk factors have only a small contribution to make, Dr Sushil said adding that these risk factors, attributed to a set of life-style changes are prevalent both in urban and rural India. He elaborated that poor people in rich countries and rich people in poor countries suffer more CAD due to various metabolic, social, and cultural maladjustments. Other causes may include rapid lifestyle changes due to urbanization and nutritional transitions that accompany such economic developments, he said. As per Indian Council of Medical Research-India Diabetes (ICMR-INDIAB) study, every second individual is physically inactive, and less than 10% of the studied population was involved in doing regular physical activity, he added. He further said that reducing high fat dairy, carbohydrates, saturated fats and increasing daily intake of fruit and vegetables will improve cardiac and overall health. Aggressive screening tests beginning at an early age will be beneficial for early detection and treatment.
Promoting healthy group exercise activities such as walking, yoga and meditation to be practiced regularly will certainly aid in preventing the rising epidemic of Coronary artery disease.
Hence, all efforts are required to be proactively taken to clearly understand the role of risk factors in the emerging epidemic and for their effective control, he said adding that general screening for conventional risk factors right from younger age may increase awareness help in promoting lifestyle changes which can prevent or slow atherogenesis. Finally, a healthy lifestyle, balanced diet and regular physical exercise should be instilled right from the beginning in childhood to check this epidemic, he suggested. Others who were part of this camp include Dr Shahbaz Khan, Dr Ahsan ul Haq, Dr Rafiq Mir, Dr Sahil Sharma, Dr Rajkumar Sharma (Gastroenterologist), Dr Kewal Sharma, Dr Pallavi Banotra and Dr Shalini Sumbria.
Paramedics and volunteers includes Dr Udesh Pal Sharma, Kranesh Kumar, Satish Kumar, Kamal Sharma, Maneet Kumar, Vikas Kumar, Akshay Kumar, Harvinder Singh, Amandeep Singh, Rajkumar, Jagjit Singh, Gourav Nandal, Nirvair Singh and Nirjyot Singh.
