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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.

Rags to riches story of Mathadi worker

Curious Case Of Datta Pawar - Part 1


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Mumbai: During recently concluded session of the state legislature, BJP MLA from central Nagpur Pravin Datke revealed a mysterious story of rags to riches of a Mathadi worker in Mumbai, who allegedly has amassed a wealth of over Rs 300 crore in a span of about a decade while exploiting various industrial as well as commercial units as well as the Mathadi workers.


According to what Datke told the legislature, Dattatraya Bhaleghare alias Datta Pawar, who has registered himself as a Mathadi worker (the porter who carries load over his head) has at least two luxury bungalows, several vehicles worth Rs 10-15 crore, many houses in his name and several acres of land in his name. Interestingly the guy also runs dozens of companies. Datke accused him of conspiring with high-ranking officials from various Mathadi boards and duping both, the workers as well as the commercial establishments and demanded that a thorough inquiry be conducted in the case. Minister Akash Fundkar immediately accepted the demand and announced setting up a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the charges.


However, while some of the officials of the various Mathadi boards were put under suspension when the SIT probe began, the SIT has ironically excluded Datta Pawar from the probe. But whatever little probe has been done, too has reveal several interesting facts about the so called Mathadi worker.


The story of the riches of this Mathadi worker begins with two PAN cards. The PAN cards appear to be in the name of two different persons, Dattatraya Bhaleghare and Datta Pawar, interestingly names of their fathers and grandfathers too are the same and their signatures also match. It was revealed during a case of alleged extortion against him at Thane wherein the sessions court directed the income tax department to verify and furnish information on how many IT returns were filed by this one person in these two names and also to calculate the income tax evaded and the penalty for the same.


The humble Mathadi worker also has at least 10 high-end luxury vehicles like the Mercedes, Fortuner and Innova Crista.


Interestingly all the vehicles have the same registration number 4499. The court has also asked the police to investigate into the case of these many variety of vehicles with one single number.


Dattatraya Bhaleghare aka Datta Pawar was born in a humble family of Kolewadi village of Jawli taluka of Satara district. Because of dependency of rain-fed farming the family had hardly any means for living. This led Dattatraya Bhaleghare to migrate to Mumbai in search of job in late ‘90s.


He registered himself as a Mathadi worker and started working along with young men from nearby villages. Due to his sharp mind, he quickly became popular among the fellow Mathadi workers. Apart from working as a Mathadi labour, he also started doing some small odd jobs like driving an auto rickshaw.


His nature to involve associated in his businesses led in his popularity growing leaps and bounds and the popularity among fellow labourers raised him in the eyes of politicians. He moved close to some of the politicians. His old associates say that he had a good opportunity to use the closeness with politicians for the betterment of his fellow workers, instead he used it for his own benefit and amassed huge wealth.


He still has a good hold among his followers so much so that a demonstration march too is organised in his home district next week to shield him from any inquiry that might be conducted against him.


Apart from strong political backing, with the ill-gotten money he has made friends not within the Mathadi boards but in various arms of the state administration. These invisible hands are currently said to be shielding him from any action against him and his name was even excluded from the SIT probe. However, he still has several cases registered against him in various police stations of Mumbai and Thane. Even if the police and other departments like the IT follow the instructions of the court and initiate probe against him, the mystery surrounding the rags to riches story will fade away and the crimes behind it will come forth, say the people who have been closely following the case.

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