top of page

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.

Waiting for A Big Opportunity

Updated: Nov 25, 2024

Bala Nandgaonkar

Bala Nandgaonkar, who was a Shiv Sena corporator, came to fame in 1995 when he defeated the then PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal in his own Mazgaon assembly constituency. He came to be known as a giant killer. Almost 30 years after that he is contesting against Shiv Sena MLA Ajay Chaudhari from the Shivadi assembly constituency, which is known as the bastion of Shiv Sena. If Nandgaonkar beats Chaudhari, he shall create history again, as the Shiv Sena will face defeat in a constituency where it had never been defeated in the past.


Born on June 1, 1957, in Mazgaon, Mumbai to Rakhma and Dagdu Nandgaonkar, Bala grew up in Taadwadi area of Mazgaon, where he also started participating in social activities. The innate desire to serve people pushed him towards Shiv Sena, which was more of a platform to resolve small societal issues than a political party back then. Balasaheb Thackeray became the guiding force for Bala and soon he was known for resolving civic issues by the locals. This skill with people forced the party to make him contest the BMC election and he became a corporator. Nandgaonkar married Leena in 1999 and the couple has a daughter.


His loyalty towards Thackeray helped him stay with Shiv Sena even when the local MLA Chhagan Bhujbal switched over to the Congress and became a minister. Nandgaonkar’s loyalty forced the party to make him contest assembly election in 1995 and he became a giant killer. When the party came to power in 1995, he became the minister of state for home. This was a big leap that shaped his career. He represented the Mazgaon seat in the state legislature for next three consecutive terms after that. He was recognized as the Best Legislator in the Maharashtra Assembly in 1995 and received the Best Legislator Award from the President of India.


In the meanwhile, in 2006 Raj Thackeray quit Shiv Sena to form Maharashtra Navanirman Sena (MNS) and Bala Nandgaonkar was the only MLA in office to quit the party with him to form a new party. He won 2009 election as the member of MNS. In 2014, however, he lost to Ajay Chaudhary of Shiv Sena from the Shivadi constituency and didn’t contest any election after that. That is also another reason why this election matters more to him.


Nandgaonkar has also been involved in social service activities, such as organizing SSC guidance camps for children, walking marathons for senior citizens, cricket tournaments, and recruitment camps with large private entities in his constituency. He has also worked on projects like the renovation and beautification of the Raey Road crematorium and the creation of a “Senior Citizens House” for senior citizens to gather and address issues.


In addition to his political and social work, Nandgaonkar has been the President of the Maharashtra State Carrom Association.

Comments

bottom of page