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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Cold wave triggers spike in cardiac arrests

Mumbai : As winter temperatures go for a spin across the country, hospitals are witnessing a significant surge of around 25-30 pc in cardiac emergencies, a top cardiologist said.   According to Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Hemant Khemani of Apex Group of Hospitals, cold air directly affects how the heart functions.   “Low temperatures make blood vessels tighten. When the arteries narrow, blood pressure shoots up and the heart has to work harder to push the blood through the stiffened...

Cold wave triggers spike in cardiac arrests

Mumbai : As winter temperatures go for a spin across the country, hospitals are witnessing a significant surge of around 25-30 pc in cardiac emergencies, a top cardiologist said.   According to Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Hemant Khemani of Apex Group of Hospitals, cold air directly affects how the heart functions.   “Low temperatures make blood vessels tighten. When the arteries narrow, blood pressure shoots up and the heart has to work harder to push the blood through the stiffened vessels,” said Dr. Khemani.   Elaborating on the direct effects of cold air on heart functioning, he said that low temperatures make blood vessels tighten, when arteries narrow, blood pressure shoots up and the heart must work harder to push blood through stiffened vessels.   Winter also thickens the blood, increasing the likelihood of clot formation and these combined effects create a dangerous ‘demand-supply mismatch’ for oxygen, especially in people with existing heart conditions.   This trend has caused concern among cardiologists as it adds to India’s already heavy cardiovascular diseases burden – with nearly one in four deaths linked to heart and blood vessel problems.   Dr. Khemani said that sudden temperature transitions - from warm rooms to chilly outdoors - can put additional strain on the heart and risks. “This abrupt shift loads the cardiovascular system quickly, raising the risk of a sudden (cardiac) event among vulnerable individuals.”   Lifestyle Patterns Added to these are the changes in lifestyle patterns during winter month that further amplify the danger. Most people reduce physical activities, eat richer foods, and often gain weight all of which combine to raise cholesterol levels, disrupt blood-sugar balance and push up blood pressure.   Complicating matters for the heart are the social gatherings during the cold season that tends to bring higher intake of smoking and alcohol, said Dr. Khemani.   Recommending basic preventive measures, Dr. Khemani said the chest, neck and hands must be kept warm to prevent heat loss, maintain a steady body temperature and reduce the chances of sudden blood pressure spikes, a low-salt diet, home-cooked meals, shot indoor walks post-eating, adequate hydration and at least seven hours of sleep.   He warns against ignoring warning signals such as chest discomfort, breathlessness, unexplained fatigue, or sudden sweating, pointing out that “early medical care can significantly limit heart damage and improve survival.”   The rise in winter heart risks is not unique to India and even global health agencies like World Health Federation and World Health Organisation report similar patterns.   The WHF estimates that more than 20 million people die of heart-related causes each year - equal to one life lost every 1.5 seconds, and the WHO has listed heart disease as the world’s leading cause of death for five consecutive years.   Seniors affected more by winter chills  Cold weather can hit the heart at any age, but the risk is noticeably higher for men aged above  45 and in women after 55, with the highest danger curve in people over 60, and elders with co-morbidities and history of heart diseases.   “People with existing cardiac problems face greater trouble in winter as the heart has to work harder. Even those without known heart disease can sometimes experience winter heart attacks, as chilly conditions may expose hidden blockages or trigger problems due to sudden exertion, heavy meals, smoking or dehydration,” Dr. Khemani told  ‘ The Perfect Voice’ .   However, contrary to perceptions, cold-weather heart issues have no connection to the COVID-19 vaccine, nor is there any scientific evidence linking the two, he assured.

Messy Congress makes Uddhav stronger

Uddhav

Mumbai: The recent developments in the Congress has made Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray stronger in the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA).


Thackeray was looking on a sticky wicket before the Assembly elections were announced. However, the Congress has given him a lot of strength by removing its state unit president Nana Patole as the party’s chief negotiator to discuss seat sharing within the MVA.


Patole had taken a firm stand that the Congress should not leave 12 seats for the Shiv Sena (UBT) in Vidarbha region, his home turf, as demanded by Thackeray. Patole was of the opinion that Thackeray’s party did not deserve more than eight seats in the region.


Patole made his thoughts public leading to uneasiness in Thackeray’s party. It resulted in Thackeray issuing a warning to the Congress against the highhandedness. As a responsible official Patole’s stand was correct in the interest of the Congress. However, his bosses in the party sidelined him as chief negotiator and appointed a lenient Balasabeb Thorat as his replacement.


The Congress’ act has underpinned that Thackeray would remain the biggest influencer in the MVA.


The Congress has many leaders at the top but none having a statewide popularity or recognition. Their decision making is invariably through high command in Delhi necessitating approval of Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi. In contrast Shiv Sena (UBT) decisions are instantaneous in line with their party culture prevailing right from its conception, which is, at times, appreciated by masses. Hence even Uddhav’s demand of declaring himself as CM- face is unrealistic, Congress is finding it difficult to reject it outright.


Congress is compelled to soft-peddle the issue since if threats of Sena-UBT going alone actually materialis, the biggest loser will be Congress. The party is aware that emerging as the largest group of MPs in Maharashtra in recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, would not have been possible without getting share of Shiv Sena (UBT) voters. Hence to regain the foothold in Maharashtra, Congress needs Shiv Sena (UBT) alliance to continue to milk the benefit.


Nana Patole may have many opponents in the state Congress but even his big critics admit that he has given wings to the party in Vidarbha. Patole is in the best position to judge the situation in the region. His image of an aggressive OBC face of the party would have helped the party in the Kunbi dominated region that has 64 seats.


However, the Congress is just struggling to contain Thackeray’s unilateral decisions if not threats, potentially dwindling Congress’s prospects.

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