The Hindu : Kerala News : Matters of the heart

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 17, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala

Matters of the heart

“Politicians are the best practitioners of preventive medicine; doctors are only advisors.” Sounds odd?

But, the way Kochi cardiologist Sajy Kuruttukulam puts it, politicians and policymakers can do wonders in terms of preventing diseases, injuries and deaths.

For instance, he says, by a recent Government Order enforcing wearing of helmets by two-wheeler riders, politicians could forestall hundreds of possible deaths and injuries on the road. Even if scores of preventive medicine practitioners dished out sermons on the importance of helmet-wearing day and night, they could not have accomplished such a feat.

The same goes with the order making it compulsory for drivers to wear seatbelts, Dr. Kuruttukulam said, while making a presentation at a seminar organised by Medical Trust Hospital recently.

Dr. Kuruttukulam points out that the prime responsibility of preventing heart ailments is with the individual.

Owing to the drastic changes in lifestyles, heart diseases and deaths related to it have now become very common.

But, some precautionary steps could save hundreds of precious lives.

Vast majority of heart diseases could be stopped in their tracks if one takes care of these risk factors: smoking, cholesterol, diabetes, stress, abdominal obesity, sedentary lifestyles, and alcohol.

One should also eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Fish is good for the heart, he noted.

Regular physical exercise is of critical importance, but at the same time, sudden and intense exercise can itself trigger a heart attack.

Prevention is any day better than attempting to cure heart diseases.

K.P.M. Basheer

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