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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.

Pakistan-Russia Relations Enter New Phase

Updated: Oct 21, 2024

Pakistan-Russia

Pakistan and Russia are warming up bilateral ties. Credit goes to Indian authorities for beautifully maintaining the relationship between Washington and Moscow. India’s excellent relationship with two archrivals Russia and the US, has provided much-needed courage to Pakistani authorities to follow suit.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk met with Pakistani officials in Islamabad in a bid to deepen economic ties and expand cooperation “across multiple sectors” as Moscow grapples with U.S. and EU economic sanctions over its war against Ukraine.

Overchuk’s visit comes after two days of meetings between John Bass, U.S. acting undersecretary of state for political affairs, and Pakistani army chief General Asim Munir and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad.

During a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart earlier this week in Islamabad, Dar revealed that discussions centred on expanding economic ties between the two countries. Islamabad is abuzz with the speculation that Russians are helping Pakistan to build a steel mill. If true, it is going to be an excellent step in the revival of Moscow-Islamabad ties.

Pakistan’s bilateral trade with Russia reached an unprecedented $1 billion last year. The countries are committed to expanding trade ties by addressing logistical and related issues. Officials familiar with the development in the Pakistan-Russia bilateral relationship are optimistic that the two sides can enhance the volume of bilateral trade from one billion US dollars to $5 billion in a few years. In fact, India’s bid to maintain an excellent relationship with arch-rivals Russia and the US has given Pakistan much confidence to follow suit. However, it is not an easy task for Islamabad to follow the Indian path. Islamabad may lose its biggest economic partner like the US if it goes ahead to develop ties with Russia.

According to officials familiar with the development, Pakistan and Russia are expanding ties in many fields, including liquefied natural gas (LNG) purchases. However, sanctions against Russia restrict cooperation between the two countries. Can Pakistan still go forward to enhance bilateral ties with Russia? It’s a million-dollar question.

Pakistan views Russia as an important player in West, South, and Central Asia. Authorities in Islamabad aim to work with Moscow toward peace and stability in Afghanistan. However, it will not be an easy task for Islamabad, as Washington can be a silent spectator. Pakistan may face the wrath of going ahead with Russian plans in Afghanistan.

Also, Pakistan’s army media wing said in a statement on Wednesday that Russia’s Overchuk spoke with General Syed Asim Munir, chief of the army staff (COAS), in Rawalpindi.

Analysts say the Russian deputy prime minister’s visit and the expansion of cooperation show Moscow is expanding its influence in the region.

“In my view, a vacuum has emerged after the U.S. exit from Afghanistan, and Russia is positioning itself to fill that void. China is also making efforts in this direction. As a result, Pakistan is working under this policy framework to improve its relations with regional countries, including Russia,” Professor Manzoor Afridi, a Pakistani academic on international relations, told VOA.

Analysts on Pakistan’s foreign policy and geopolitics believe that the US may not react until warming ties in the Russia-Pakistan bilateral relationship focus primarily on enhancing trade, strengthening diplomatic relations, and developing infrastructure, particularly in the energy sector. However, the United States may react sharply if Pakistan-Russia ties go beyond that threshold. The US has restricted certain aspects of Pakistan’s ballistic missile program, while tensions between Russia and Ukraine have escalated. In this context, Pakistan’s relationship with Russia holds significance.

Pakistan received its first shipment of Russian liquefied petroleum gas in 2023. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif discussed the possibility of liquefied natural gas supplies earlier in July on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit at Astana, Kazakhstan.

Pakistan’s bid to warm its ties with Washington is a welcome step. However, Islamabad has to pay a heavy price in case of cosying up with Russia. It may have to lose an economic partner like the US. Can Pakistan afford to lose a partner like the US? It’s a million-dollar question.

(The writer is a senior journalist based in Islamabad. Views personal.)

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