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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.

Ratan Tata believed in leadership by trust!

Updated: Oct 22, 2024

Tata

Those who haven’t seen Ratan Tata’s smile have missed out on something in life. He was an extremely gentle, warm, large-hearted person; a visionary who had great interest in using technology for the development of society. He had a beautiful disarming smile.


I first met him in 2014 when I approached him for philanthropic support for SEARCH. In our experience, donors usually try and cut down the budget but to my surprise, Tata was just the opposite, He had recently taken up full-time leadership of Tata Trusts then. I went with a Rs 20 crore proposal and instead of cutting it down, he kept urging me to add more equipment. The conversation was the opposite of what I had experienced with other donors. It was a novel experience where a donor was telling me to ask for more.


He had tremendous interest in technology and the belief that cutting edge technology could help in the development of society. He believed that tribals should also get the best healthcare. He kept asking me to get a digital x-ray machine. He had faith in the principle of justice and equality…that every person in society should get equally good healthcare.


He believed in leadership by trust. If he saw a good organisation, he supported it fully and backed it to the hilt. And then he gave them full autonomy, flexibility and support. He wanted to help people for the long term.


I joined Tata Trusts in 2015 and since then, I’ve had the privilege of interacting him during personal one-on-one meetings and group meetings. And I got the see the man he really was—a visionary who was large-hearted and warm.


In March 2016, he signed numerous MoUs with the Government of Maharashtra on water conservation, prison reforms, healthcare and so on. Since the budget session of the Maharashtra Assembly was ongoing, these MoUs were signed in the assembly itself. The then Chief Minister announced these MoUs and also stated that Tata was present in the visitors’ gallery.


The entire House, cutting across party lines, gave him a standing ovation. The House reverberated with the sounds of clapping. The admiration and respect he enjoyed across political parties was tremendous.


Tata’s love for animals is well-known. He set up a state-of-the-art animal hospital. Another incident I recall is when I had accompanied a minister for a meeting with Tata. We had gone to his office at Horniman Circle. The minister was talking excitedly and as his voice rose in excitement, Tata gently hushed him to speak softly. There was a mongrel sleeping in the same room. Tata was so concerned about disturbing the mongrel that he didn’t hesitate to even tell a cabinet minister to speak softy. But he was so gentle and almost innocent in his concern that it was extremely heart warming.


He loved technology! Thanks to him, I got the opportunity to meet and listen to one of the inventors of the genetic modification technology because he had invited him to Mumbai.


He took great interest in various issues; he was curious about everything. He contributed a lot of prison reforms, healthcare of Gadchiroli and the government’s malaria control programme. News of farmers committing suicide distressed him and he contributed towards their welfare.


He was a visionary industrialist and philanthropist. But above all, he was an extremely warm person. He loved both, humanity and the individual. There was never an occasion when he didn’t walk me to the door and open the door himself. If you left from his office, he’d wait until you got into the lift. He was a beautiful combination of yin and yang.


His smile was disarming and child-life. Those who haven’t seen his smile, have missed out on a lot in life.


(The writer is director of SEARCH in Gadchiroli.)

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