Social Determinants of cardiac ailments-Pandora Box of current times: Dr Sushil

STATE TIMES NEWS

Jammu: In view of deteriorating social and environmental aspects of health Head Department of Cardiology GMCH Jammu Dr. Sushil Sharma in association with Sadhguru Baba Kanshi Giri Ji Charitable Trust conducted a day long cardiac awareness cum health check up camp at Banpuri Bhajwal, Sunderbani.
The camp was inaugurated by Guru Gosain Brij Bhushan Ji Maharaj along with Dr Sushil Sharma, Vinod Behnal (ADC) and Dr Govind Sharma in which people of all age groups and communities participated and they were educated about the rising prevalence of cardiac ailments due to declining environmental and social quality of life thus increasing the morbidity and mortality.
At the outset Guru Gosain Brij Bhushan Ji Maharaj commended the volunteers for their service, remarking that such camps help people on many levels.
In particular, he said, they serve an unmet need for underserved populations that may not have access to medical care or may not be aware of its necessity or availability.
Spirituality such as sharing of religious thoughts and insights and praying for others is a source of social support. While interacting with the people Dr Sushil stated that the term ‘social determinants of health’ is used to describe the health impact of the social environment on people living in a particular community. Specifically, they include the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age, and are shaped by the distribution of money, power and resources at global, national and local levels .
The social determinants of health (including the health care system) are mostly responsible for health inequities between and within countries. Since health status follows a gradient pattern, people in poorer socio-economic circumstances are not as healthy as those in the middle-class, and middle-class groups are not as healthy as those at the top. However, a large number at the bottom still develop into healthy and competent adults.
He elaborated that when analyzing CVD mortality and risk factor prevalence rates according to income group, it is alarming to realize that , individuals of lower socioeconomic status are more vulnerable to CVD than those of higher socioeconomic status . Evidence of the inverse social gradient and inequity gap reveals that mortality is highest among those in the poorest income group and, as income increases, the mortality rate decreases. Not surprisingly, these trends are also consistent with CVD risk factor prevalence rates in which individuals in a lower income group, especially in urban areas, have a greater exposure to risk factors (such as smoking and atherosclerosis) that manifest as obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia and hypertension . Alarmingly, the inverse social gradient and inequity gap not only persisted but grew when the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors according to income category over time were considered, He Said.
Dr Sushil Sharma in his concluding remarks told that because CVD is increasing globally, it is crucial that we understand the social and economic forces that promote the development of risk factors affecting who is screened and who is treated. The dissemination of knowledge and the application of effective strategies are essential. The social determinants of health are tools to help illuminate how social processes interact with CVD health on a global, national and individual level. Specifically, if disadvantaged groups can be identified, intervention strategies can then be tailored at an early age before the individual exhibits the conventional risk factors thereby improving population health and reducing the burden placed on health care resource, He added.
Others prominent members of the Charitable Trust Roshan Lal Prasher, D.N Raina, Nain Chand Sharma, Rajesh Prasher , C.L Raina and Dr D.K Sharma appreciated the efforts of Dr Sushil and his team for travelling a long distance and to Conduct cardiac awareness cum health check up Camp in their premises.
Others who were part of this camp includes Dr Govind Sharma (Physician), Dr Madhav Sharma and Dr Zaffar Iqbal.
Paramedics and volunteers includes Raghav Rajput, Rajkumar, Aman Gupta, Rajinder Singh, Jatin Bhasin, Vikas Kumar, Gourav Sharma, Faisal Rashid, Nirvair Singh Bali, Sandeep Pal, Paramveer Singh, Vishal Mehra and numerous volunteers of Charitable Trust.