Plan the health like a pension plan for future-Dr. Bedi

‘The hearts of Punjabis should not just tick–they should beat strongly’
Ludhiana//16 November 2011// Shalu Arora and Rector Kathuria

Dr. Bedi during a camp (File photo: The Eagle Eye News)


In the current era where heart disease has touched epidemic proportions in India according to WHO there is something to cheer about. Just simple lifestyle changes and regular exercise can dramatically reduce the chances of suffering from a heart attack.    

At a recently concluded cardiac check up camp conducted by Dr Harinder Singh Bedi – Head of Cardio Vascular & Thoracic Surgery at the Christian Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana- some very positive findings have come up. At the camp a comprehensive cardiac checkup was performed on a cross section of the community of Samana and all surrounding areas. 400 patients were examined at the camp which was jointly organized with the Registered Medical Practitioners Association, Samana. All patients underwent a thorough examination by superspecialist doctors along with special blood tests. A unique feature was the addition of a dietary consultation and of supervised yoga therapy for all patients and attendants.  It was found that people who exercised regularly or performed yoga had their hearts in good shape, and had cholesterol levels and blood pressure under control. Dr Bedi was very encouraged with these findings for they suggest that a simple regimen of exercise, prudent diet, weight control and regular checkups could indeed keep the hearts of Punjabis in good shape. He stressed that the aim of preventive medicine was – ‘The hearts of Punjabis should not just tick – they should beat strongly’.

Interestingly similar reports have been found worldwide. Currently around one in five menopausal women die from heart disease. But according to new research by exercise scientists at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), this shocking statistic could be reversed if women took just 30 minutes to exercise, 5 days a week. Similarly a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that walking briskly for half an hour cut the risk of premature death in men and women by 44 percent.

There is some confusion about the type and intensity of exercise required. For cardiovascular fitness, you need to do a minimum of 20 minutes of aerobic exercise three times a week, working hard enough that you break a sweat or are mildly out of breath. If you work out on a treadmill you should walk at a speed of at least four miles per hour on a level. If it’s on an incline, you can go a little more slowly.

Aim for a target heart rate during exercise.  Make monitoring your heart rate an integral part of your workout routine. It's a safer, more effective way to exercise, according to the American College of Sports Medicine.

Here's how to calculate your target heart rate range:

- Estimate your maximum heart rate by subtracting your age from 220.
- Determine your lower-limit exercise heart rate: multiply your maximum heart rate by 0.6.

- Calculate your upper-limit exercise heart rate: multiply your maximum heart rate by 0.9.

For most people, working out at the lower end of the heart rate range for a longer time is better than exercising at the higher end for a shorter period.

Punjabis have a genetic predisposition to heart disease. You can’t do anything about your genes just yet—but you can lower that risk through lifestyle changes. Diet, yoga, exercise, regular physical checkups—all of these can help. Diabetes and high blood pressure can be detected and kept under control. It is time that we invested in our health and fitness now to ensure a real quality of life in later years – just as we plan a financial pension plan for our future. So, strap on your sneakers and start striding in the park.

300 patients were given free blood sugar test

A call to be alert against Diabetes
World Diabetes Day Celebrated
Ludhiana//14th November, 2011//Shalu Arora and Rector kathuria

World Diabetes day is a call to all those who are responsible for Diabetes care and can contribute to control it. For a diabetic patient, this is a message for empowerment education so that he can follow proper ways whether diet food or exercises to improve his health. And for general public this is a call to be alert against Diabetes and understand the serious impact of diabetes.
Giving Information regarding the camp Dr.Marry John, HOD, Medicine department said that World Diabetes Day raises global awareness of diabetes - it’s escalating rates around the world and how to prevent the illness in most cases. Started by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and WHO, the Day is celebrated on 14 November to mark the birthday of Frederick Banting who, along with Charles Best, was instrumental in the discovery of insulin in 1922, a life-saving treatment for diabetes patients.
On the occasion of World Diabetes Day on Monday 14th November, 2011 the department of Medicine at CMC and Hospital organized a free medical camp where around 300 patients were medically examined and given free blood sugar test to assess the risk of developing the disease. Patients were also offered free counselling by the specialists of diabetes and endocrinology department. A presentation on Diabetes education and self care was screened. Quiz competition for children with type 1 Diabetes was held. A diet display was also organized by the department. Patients also underwent free body mass and fat analysis test, blood sugar, diabetic foot.

25% quota of free seats in schools

Right of admission of children including children with disabilities 
Provisions of the RTE Act, 2009

New Delhi//November 12, 2011//

RTE Task Force (Social Jurist Initiative) volunteers with Advocate Ashok Agarwal would be visiting Shastri Park Jhuggies (near ISBT, Kashmere Gate, Delhi) on Sunday 13 November 2011 from 8 am to 10 am to meet the parents and the students of the area from door to door. The sole aim of the visit is to share with them the right of admission of children including children with disabilities in government and recognized private schools (under 25% quota of free seats) arising out the provisions of the RTE Act, 2009. The students would be encouraged to write RTE PIL Postcard to the Delhi High Court Chief Justice about the violations of their right to education. Handbills containing Helpline Nos. 9868529459, 8826456565 would also be distributed among the people. Parents and students may take legal assistance totally free of costs through these Helplines between 10 am and 5 pm on all days except Sundays. Friends and well wishers who wish to volunteer themselves to the Cause may join us at 8 am sharp on 13 November 2011 at Shastri Park red light crossing. People can also join us at facebook. Ashok Agarwal, Advocate, advisor, Social Jurist may be also contacted at his mobile number-09811101923

Four state level rallies by Mehila Congress

Formation of state body within next fortnight
Chandigarh// November 10, 2011//Rector Kathuria

Mahila congress Punjab will organize four state level rallies at Ropar, Kapurthala, Dharamkot and Amritsar in the month of December which will be adrresed by Smt Anita Verma, President, All India Mahila Congress. This was stated by Dr Malti Thapar after chairing the first meeting of the mahila congress. Dr Thapar also announced the formation of state body within next fortnight with 2 senior vice presidents, 7 vice presidents, 7 general secretaries, 7 secretaries, 1 organizing secretary, 1 treasurer, 1 media advisor, 1 office secretary, 11 executive committee members and joint secretaries.  Three Zonal rallies to be addressed by Incharge Punjab affairs Dr. Anita Babbar at Hoshiarpur, Patiala and Gurdaspur.

Dr Thapar directed the mahila congress workers to ensure maximum participation of the mahila workers in the ongoing Punjab bachao rallies being organized by Pradesh congress. She also asked the mahila workers to work for the coming vidhan sabha elections and work with the senior party to ensure the victory.

Urinary Incontinence in women embarrassing but treatable

Dr Meena Dass visiting CMCH on 12-19 November

Ludhiana// November 8, 2011//Shalu Arora and Rector Kathuria

Dr Meena Dass, MD, FRCOG, Consultant Uro-Gynecologist at the Barnsley NHS Hospital Trust, UK, who will be visiting the Department of Urology at CMCH on 12-19 November-2011, in a telephonic interview said that Urinary Incontinence in women is embarrassing but it is treatable. Urinary incontinence means that you can't always control when you urinate. As a result, you wet your clothes most of the time during the day and night. This is embarrassing, but it can always be cured. Urinary incontinence can be caused by many different medical problems, including weak pelvic muscles or diabetes, after repeated child births, obesity and as part of aging in the females. Stress urinary incontinence is a disturbing condition when urine leaks because of sudden pressure on your lower abdominal muscles, such as when you cough, laugh, lift something or exercise. Stress incontinence usually occurs when the pelvic muscles are weak, for example after childbirth or surgery. Stress incontinence is common in women. Surgery can be helpful. It is usually done if other treatment modalities haven't worked or if the incontinence is severe.

Dr Meena Dass described the new surgical technique of “Tension Free Vaginal Tape – Obturator Approach (TVT-O)” and highlighted its advantage over various other surgical procedures for Stress Urinary Incontinence (SIU). Dr Kim Mammen, HOD of Urology, CMCH, emphasized that the TVT-O Technique and the use of similar slings, is a minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of patients with Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) who do not improve with medications. It improves the quality of life and makes the patients dry.

Dr Meena Dass along with Dr Kim Mammen and the Urology Team including Dr Francis Sridhar Katumalla, Dr George Mathew, Dr Shafiq Ahmed and Dr Amit Tuli will be available to treat patients with Stress Urinary Incontinence. We hope to see many patients coming into our hospital “wet” and going  home “dry”, said Dr Kim Mammen, Professor & Head, Department of Urology, CMCH. Dr Meena Dass will be available for consultation from 12-19 November-2011 at the Department of Urology with prior appointment. The contact telephone for prior appointment: 0161-5026999 Extension: 5026 [Urology Office].

 “I was unable to go for any social functions because I was always wet but, now after this surgical procedure, I am absolutely dry and I do not have to wear any pads. I do not smell of urine and I feel more confident of myself” said one of the patients who was recently operated at CMCH Urology Department. Dr Kim Mammen highlighted that the cost of this “Tension Free Vaginal Tape – Obturator Approach (TVT-O)” which is imported is available at a subsidized rate and for genuinely poor and need patients few of these Tapes can be made available free of cost through Philanthropists and charitable agencies.

Ending 40 yaers of barenness in married life

Mohali woman becomes mother at the age of grandmother’ 
Ludhiana//November 3, 2011//Inderpreet Ahluwalia

Joy seems no bound for 68-year-old Hakim Singh since the day he heard the news of his 60-year-old wife Jaspal Kaur giving birth to a child, therefore, ending 40 yaers of barenness in their married life.
The sexagenarian couple gave birth to a baby boy at local Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) and was discharged today with both the mother and son in “pinks” of their health.

“You can not put this joy of becoming a mother at the age of grandmother merely in few lines or words”, said a visibly enthused Jaspal Kaur.  Hailing from Rampur village in Mohali and married for 40 years, the couple had been trying, without success, to have a child, until Kaur entered menopause. All those years , in the search for a child, the couple made several visits to temples, Gurdwaras, hospitals, and even babas but only met disappointment.

“Undaunted by all odds, we kept on trying and later a year back visited Dr Sumita in Ludhiana for the first time. The treatment followed for few months and nine month ago I was told my wife was pregnant”, said the proud father Hakim Singh.

The couple said they had been yearning for a child and never believed in selective gender. “We were missing the joy of being a  parent despite being happily married. We never prayed for a boy or a girl and had been only trying to invoke wahegurus blessings to get a child. Perhaps our prayers were true and carried no malice and He gave me a chance to become a mother when my fellow villagers are already a grandmother of two to three children”, said Jaspal Kaur.

Dr Sumita Sofat of Sofat infertility centre where the couple was treated during pre-pregnancy satge, said, Kaur conceived pregnancy with the use of a donor egg . “She became pregnant through in vitro fertilization process . Her medical examination and health check up indicated that she would be able to survive a high-risk pregnancy and finally she delivered a baby boy at DMCH via Caesarean section”, said Dr Sumita.

Mahila congress will provide moral and legal support

Thousands of Mahila Congress workers gather at Moga
Mahila Congress Pb.to launch 24 hour help line 
A step taken for women of Punjab: Dr Malti Thapar 
Moga:November 2, 2011

Mahila Congress Punjab will shortly start a 24 hour helpline at Congress Bhawan Chandigarh for the women of Punjab who are harassed and tortured at the family or social or administrative or political level. Stating this as a historic step, Dr Malti Thapar, President, Mahila Congress Punjab said that Mahila congress will provide moral and legal support to such females who are deprived of their rights in any way. This 24 hour helpline number will be intimated to the general public through media. Dr Thapar announced this today at Moga, while she was speaking at the rally held on the second day of Punjab Bachao yatra.

Dr Thapar said that number of cases of atrocities on the women have increased manifold during the last four and half years of this Akali Dal Badal and BJP rule. The crime rate in Punjab has gone up leaving behind Bihar also. Women in the state are feeling insecure and unsafe in the goondaraj of Akali Dal Badal. Everyday the silent protesting teachers or the Aangan vaadi workers are picked up by the Punjab police on the directions of S Sukhbir Singh Badal, who is the home minister also, and beaten mercilessly in front of everybody. 

Dr Thapar questioned S Harsimrat kaur Badal, MP that What is the use of just grabbing cheap publicity by holding daughter of poor people and branding it as “Nanhi Chaan”? Can the present regime give any authenticated data on the female foeticide in the state during the last four years?Dr Thapar assured the president PPCC, Capt Amarinder Singh that Mahila Congress will be his right hand in the coming vidhan sabha elections and will fight with the Pradesh Congress to throw this government out of power. Dr Thapar requested Capt Singh that while drafting the manifesto special attention should be given to the issues relating to the women of Punjab.

Dr Thapar pointed to S Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister of Punjab that by making cancer specialization hospitals in Malwa belt won’t serve the purpose of common man, come to Dharamkot and see where Punjab is going? For the last 15 years Akali Dal has ruled in this constituency but S Parkash Singh Badal should see the plight of the people there. There is no school, college, hospital, roads or transport. People are living in pitiable conditions without even safe drinking water and electricity. Old age pensions and shagun schemes are also not being distributed by the government. Even the money to be given in the MNREGA is not being paid to the workers.