Pollutants, environmental determinants-neglected aspect of CVD: Dr Sushil
STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: As pollution has shown a progressive and unrelenting course in recent times particularly, keeping in view the above factors Head Department of Cardiology, Dr. Sushil Sharma held a day long cardiac awareness cum health check up camp at Hari Mandir, Rehari Colony Jammu in which people of all age groups and communities participated and they were educated about the rising prevalence of cardiac ailments due to ambient air pollution and ways to decrease the same.
More than 450 people were screened, evaluated, diagnosed and free medicines were given as per the requirements.
While interacting with the people, Dr Sushil stated that over the last decade, a growing body of epidemiological and clinical evidence has led to a heightened concern about the potential deleterious effects of ambient air pollution on health and its relation to heart disease and stroke.
Of special interest are several environmental air pollutants that include carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, sulfur dioxide, ozone, lead, and particulate matter (“thoracic particles” [PM10] <10 ?m in aerodynamic diameter, “fine particles” [PM2.5] <2.5 ?m, and “coarse particles” [PM10 to 2.5]). These pollutants are associated with increased hospitalization and mortality due to cardiovascular disease, especially in persons with congestive heart failure, frequent arrhythmias, or both. The well-established causal associations between active and passive smoking with heart disease and stroke support the plausibility of an adverse effect of PM on the cardiovascular system, Dr. Sushil said.
He elaborated that Air pollution may accelerate the development of coronary atherosclerosis and worsen its sequelae. Some of these effects may occur over time, as with acceleration of the progression of atherosclerosis, or rather abruptly, as with the triggering of an arrhythmia or myocardial infarction by acute inflammatory responses, altered platelet adhesiveness, or perhaps vascular endothelial dysfunction.
The putative biological mechanisms linking air pollution to heart disease involve direct effects of pollutants on the cardiovascular system, blood, and lung receptors, and/or indirect effects mediated through pulmonary oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. Direct effects may occur via agents that readily cross the pulmonary epithelium into the circulation, Dr. Sushil further said.
He added that short-term exposure can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, arrythmias and heart failure in susceptible people, such as the elderly or those with pre-existing medical conditions. The risk of death is greater from long-term exposure. Current science suggests air pollution facilitates atherosclerosis development and It also may play a role in high blood pressure, heart failure, he said.
Dr Sushil Sharma in his concluding remarks told that public awareness of the health risks of air pollution has never been higher and while we may have known for many centuries that air pollution is damaging to health, it is only in last two decades that the full magnitude of the problem has been recognized and the statistics are staggering.
“Time is running out, and we must work together to ensure that our children can grow up in healthy cities, breathing clean air and living long, heart-healthy lives,” Dr. Sushil said.
Management Commitee of Shri Sanatan Dharam Sabha Hari Mandir Rehari Colony Jammu Naveen Bali, Harsh Sharma, Hans Raj Gupta , Anu Bali (Corporator), Pt. Kishore Shastri , Baby Sharma, Madhav Suri, Rohit Sharma and Aman Kumar appreciated the efforts of Dr Sushil and his team for conducting cardiac awareness cum health checkup camp for the welfare of people and the society.
Others who were part of this Camp includes Dr Nasir Ali Choudhary, Dr Anitipal Singh and Dr Dhaneshwer Kapoor. Paramedics and volunteers includes Raghav Rajput, Rajkumar, Rajinder Singh , Mukesh Kumar, Gourav Sharma, Jatin Bhasin, Jamshed Ali, Vikas Kumar, Sandeep Pal, Aman Gupta, Maninder Singh, Ranjeet Singh, Maneet Kumar and Paramveer Singh.
