Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 4: Taking a step further in his resolve to serve the people and caring for humanity by bringing awareness about the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, Dr. Sushil Sharma (HOD Cardiology GMCH & SSH Jammu) today held a day long camp in collaboration with Mahajan Sabha at Panch Mandir Channi Himmat, Jammu.
Accompanied by a team of young doctors, paramedics and volunteers, Dr. Sharma examined people of the area for the prevalence of cardiac diseases and other health ailments. More than 300 people were screened, evaluated, diagnosed and free medicines were given as per the requirements.
While interacting with the patients Dr Sushil stated that more than 3.5 lakh deaths occur each year as a result of Sudden Cardiac Arrest. “SCA claims one life every two minutes, taking more lives each year than breast cancer, lung cancer, or AIDS. Sudden Cardiac Arrest is a medical emergency. If not treated immediately it causes sudden cardiac death,” he said.
He underlined that the most common cause of SCA is a dangerous and abnormal heart rhythm called Ventricular Fibrillation (VF).
In VF, the electrical signals that control the lower chambers of the heart (ventricles) become chaotic. This sends the ventricles into fibrillation, an extremely rapid and irregular quivering that cannot effectively pump blood to the body. With fast, appropriate medical care survival is possible, administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) treating with a Defibrillator -or even just compressions to the chest can improve the chances of survival, he elaborated.
“What has been more alarming is that the Sudden Cardiac Arrest occurs abruptly and without warning, and two-thirds of SCA deaths occur without any prior indications of heart disease. In fact, SCA can happen to people of all ages and health conditions. While signs and symptoms are often not present, there are certain risk conditions for SCA, which include a previous heart attack: individuals who have had a heart attack are at greater risk of SCA – 75 % of people who die of SCA show signs of a previous heart attack, a family history of sudden death, heart failure, or massive heart attack, an abnormal heart rate or rhythm of unknown cause and episodes of fainting etc”, he said.
He advised people that no doubt it is not possible to predict SCA but people at risk of SCA may benefit from regular screening and Diagnosis.
Others, who were part of this humane effort, included Dr. Dhaneshwar Kapoor, Dr Nidhi Mahajan, Dr Kewal Sharma and Dr Chakshu Mahajan, Paramedics and Volunteers, who were part of the team included Kashmiri Lal, Kamal Kishore, Raghav Rajput, Gourav Sharma, Vikas Sabharwal, Ankush Kohli, Suresh Sharma, Raj Kumar, Ashish Soni, Kumar Abhishek, Ashwani Gupta, Vikas Kumar and Dr. Vivak M Arya (Scientist Cum Social activist).
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