STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Reiterating his resolute to reduce the burden of cardiovascular diseases among the common populace, Dr. Sushil Sharma (HOD, Cardiology, GMC and SSH Jammu) held a day long cardiac awareness camp at Shining Star High School, Muthi Jammu.
Accompanied by a team of young doctors, paramedics and volunteers, Dr. Sushil Sharma examined people of the area for prevalence of cardiac diseases and other health ailments. Patients were eagerly waiting for their turn. More than 300 people were screened. They were thoroughly evaluated, diagnosed and free medicines were given as per the requirement. While interacting with the patients, Dr Sushil said heart failure is a common cardiovascular disease with high morbidity and mortality. Unlike western countries where heart failure is predominantly a disease of the elderly, in India it affects younger age group also. With higher propensity for cardiovascular diseases and ageing population the burden of CHF is likely to be higher in comparison to the western population. Important risk factors for heart failure include coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathy and myocarditis Highlighting the different approaches meant to reduce the chances of heart failures like primary prevention, secondary prevention and community based intervention. He stressed that primary prevention approach is more conducive in the backdrop of non availability of high standards of patient care in rural areas of the State. Primary prevention seeks to identify the risk factors for the development of heart failure and their prevention with an aim to reduce the incidence and burden of heart failure. As mentioned earlier the most important risk factors are hypertension, coronary artery diseases, diabetes mellitus and rheumatic heart diseases. “Physical activity, dietary control and lifestyle modification can drastically bring down some of these modifiable risk factors and reduce the load of heart failure”, He added. Dr J.P Goswami, Rachna Goswami, Manoj Sharma, Raman Chalotra and Ajay Kumar commended the uncanny efforts of Dr Sushil Sharma and his team for organising cardiac awareness camp for rural population of the State who are otherwise unable to get themselves diagnosed on account of their social and economic constraints.
Others who were part of this humane effort included Dr. Mohi Kalsotra, Dr Anitipal Singh and Dr Chakshu Mahajan. Paramedics and volunteers who were part of the team included Kamal Sharma, Kashmiri Lal, Shamsher Singh, Vikas Sabharwal, Ankush Kohli, Sandeep Tickoo, Prabjot Singh, Harvinder Singh, Gourav Sharma, Rohit Khajuria, Rajkumar, Rajeev Vohra and Vikas Kumar.
