People who have suffered Covid-19 in the past may find it difficult to recover due to ensuing infection-induced threats related to diabetes and heart diseases. Studies have revealed that Covid-19 leads to cardiovascular problems as well as an increased risk of diabetes. Some are even wondering that a global cardiovascular aftershock might come hot on the heels of the Covid-19 pandemic. And when the world seems to be facing the prospects of another global Covid-19 wave following the massive corona outbreak in China, it becomes important to recall such threats and take necessary precautions.

<h2>Does Covid-19 lead to cardiovascular problems?</h2>

Different studies present conflicting narratives. Researchers used data provided by the US Department of Veterans Affairs to check whether such claims hold water or not. They discovered that people who suffered from Covid-19 faced significantly increased risks for 20 cardiovascular conditions, including potentially fatal problems like heart attacks and strokes. According to the researchers, these complications can occur even in people who appear to have fully recovered from mild infection.

The results were derived from the compiled data of over 150,000 veterans. It was concluded that the risk of fatal cardiovascular conditions, including blood clotting and swelling of the heart, shot up at least 20-fold compared to those who didn’t contract the virus.

Also Read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/in-a-first-doctor-may-have-saved-a-babys-life-by-repairing-heart-using-umbilical-stem-cells-544689">&nbsp;In a first, doctor may have saved a baby’s life by repairing heart using umbilical stem cells</a>

<h2>Does Covid-19 increase the risk of diabetes?</h2>

A study published in The Lancet Diabetes &amp; Endocrinology early March this year revealed that individuals might face an increased risk of diabetes even months after suffering from the plague. According to the most recent study, people who had Covid-19 were about 40% more likely to develop diabetes up to a year later It was also revealed that the risk increased in particular for type 2 diabetes, which occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin.

Watch: China dismantles Zero-Covid policy

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Given that the Covid-19 pandemic might come back to haunt the masses globally, it might trigger a wave of heart diseases and diabetes as well. The threat is real, and it makes it even more important to take precautionary measures, follow Covid-19 protocols issued by local health authorities and get vaccinated as soon as possible.

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People who have suffered Covid-19 in the past may find it difficult to recover due to ensuing infection-induced threats related to diabetes and heart diseases. Studies have revealed that Covid-19 leads to cardiovascular problems as well as an increased risk of diabetes.

People who have suffered Covid-19 in the past may find it difficult to recover due to ensuing infection-induced threats related to diabetes and heart diseases. Studies have revealed that Covid-19 leads to cardiovascular problems as well as an increased risk of diabetes. Some are even wondering that a global cardiovascular aftershock might come hot on the heels of the Covid-19 pandemic. And when the world seems to be facing the prospects of another global Covid-19 wave following the massive corona outbreak in China, it becomes important to recall such threats and take necessary precautions. Does Covid-19 lead to cardiovascular problems? Different studies present conflicting narratives. Researchers used data provided by the US Department of Veterans Affairs to check whether such claims hold water or not. They discovered that people who suffered from Covid-19 faced significantly increased risks for 20 cardiovascular conditions, including potentially fatal problems like heart attacks and strokes. According to the researchers, these complications can occur even in people who appear to have fully recovered from mild infection. The results were derived from the compiled data of over 150,000 veterans. It was concluded that the risk of fatal cardiovascular conditions, including blood clotting and swelling of the heart, shot up at least 20-fold compared to those who didn’t contract the virus. Also Read | In a first, doctor may have saved a baby’s life by repairing heart using umbilical stem cells Does Covid-19 increase the risk of diabetes? A study published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology early March this year revealed that individuals might face an increased risk of diabetes even months after suffering from the plague. According to the most recent study, people who had Covid-19 were about 40% more likely to develop diabetes up to a year later It was also revealed that the risk increased in particular for type 2 diabetes, which occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin. Watch: China dismantles Zero-Covid policy × Given that the Covid-19 pandemic might come back to haunt the masses globally, it might trigger a wave of heart diseases and diabetes as well. The threat is real, and it makes it even more important to take precautionary measures, follow Covid-19 protocols issued by local health authorities and get vaccinated as soon as possible. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

A global cardiovascular aftershock on the way? Studies sound warning bells for diabetics and heart-patients 

A new study on the effects of drinking several cups of tea per day has found that the practice has numerous health benefits ranging from lowering the risk of diabetes, stroke, and heart disease to overall mortality.&nbsp;

The study will be presented next week at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes. According to the researchers, the study involved more than one million adult participants across eight countries.&nbsp;

The result of the study indicated that drinking just one to three cups of your favourite tea beverage lowered the risk of type 2 diabetes by four per cent. Meanwhile, it also reduced the risk of developing diabetes by one per cent for every extra cuppa.&nbsp;

"Our results are exciting because they suggest that people can do something as simple as drinking four cups of tea a day to potentially lessen their risk of developing type 2 diabetes," said a researcher related to the study.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-study-2-cups-of-tea-a-day-may-help-you-live-longer-511597">WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: Study: 2 cups of tea a day may help you live longer</a>

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The researchers associated with the study pointed out that the benefits of drinking tea could be related to the presence of&nbsp;polyphenols in tea leaves which produce antioxidants.

These compounds help the human body by reducing inflammation and stress in the body. Consequently, it helps in reducing the risk of certain cardiovascular conditions.&nbsp;

As reported by WION, a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine last month also showed the positive effects of drinking tea.&nbsp;

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-drinking-tea-has-possible-health-benefits-study-says-511370">Drinking tea might help you live longer, study says</a>

Notably, scientists from the US National Cancer Institute studied the tea habits of nearly a half million adults in the United Kingdom and followed them for up to 14 years, taking into consideration risk factors such as health, socioeconomics, smoking, alcohol intake, gender, etc.&nbsp;

In the end, researchers concluded that drinking two or more cups daily lowers risk of death from any cause vs. non-tea drinkers by around 9 per cent&nbsp;to 13 per cent.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

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A new study on the effects of drinking several cups of tea per day has found that the practice has numerous health benefits ranging from lowering the risk of diabetes, stroke, and heart disease to overall mortality.

A new study on the effects of drinking several cups of tea per day has found that the practice has numerous health benefits ranging from lowering the risk of diabetes, stroke, and heart disease to overall mortality. The study will be presented next week at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes. According to the researchers, the study involved more than one million adult participants across eight countries. The result of the study indicated that drinking just one to three cups of your favourite tea beverage lowered the risk of type 2 diabetes by four per cent. Meanwhile, it also reduced the risk of developing diabetes by one per cent for every extra cuppa. "Our results are exciting because they suggest that people can do something as simple as drinking four cups of tea a day to potentially lessen their risk of developing type 2 diabetes," said a researcher related to the study. WATCH | Gravitas: Study: 2 cups of tea a day may help you live longer × The researchers associated with the study pointed out that the benefits of drinking tea could be related to the presence of polyphenols in tea leaves which produce antioxidants. These compounds help the human body by reducing inflammation and stress in the body. Consequently, it helps in reducing the risk of certain cardiovascular conditions. As reported by WION, a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine last month also showed the positive effects of drinking tea. Read more: Drinking tea might help you live longer, study says Notably, scientists from the US National Cancer Institute studied the tea habits of nearly a half million adults in the United Kingdom and followed them for up to 14 years, taking into consideration risk factors such as health, socioeconomics, smoking, alcohol intake, gender, etc. In the end, researchers concluded that drinking two or more cups daily lowers risk of death from any cause vs. non-tea drinkers by around 9 per cent to 13 per cent. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Drink multiple cups of tea, lower diabetes & heart disease risk, study reveals

The minimum temperature is very likely to fall by two to four degrees Celsius in most parts of northwest India during the next two days, informed the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday.

"Due to the prevalence of dry north/north-westerly winds, minimum temperatures very likely to fall by two-four degree Celsius over most parts of northwest India during next 2 days," it said.

Due to the influence of dry north/north-westerly winds in northwest India, a dense to very dense fog at isolated/few pockets are very likely over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, north Rajasthan, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim and Bihar during next three days.

"Cold wave or severe cold wave conditions at isolated pockets also very likely over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and East Madhya Pradesh during next 2 days. Cold Day conditions at isolated pockets also very likely over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar during next two-three days," IMD said.

The weather forecasting agency further said a cyclonic circulation is hovering over southwest Bay of Bengal off Tamil Nadu coast in mid-tropospheric levels and a trough runs from cyclonic circulation over central parts of South Arabian Sea and adjoining Equatorial Indian Ocean to Comorin area in lower tropospheric levels.&nbsp;

IMD predicted that under its influence scattered to fairly widespread rainfall with moderate thunderstorm and lightning is very likely over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, Kerala, Mahe and Lakshadweep area during next two days and reduction in rainfall activities over these regions thereafter.&nbsp;

"Conditions are becoming favourable for the cessation of Northeast monsoon rains over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, Kerala, Mahe, adjoining areas of coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, Rayalaseema and South Interior Karnataka around January 19, 2021," it added.

The minimum temperature is very likely to fall by two to four degrees Celsius in most parts of northwest India during the next two days, informed the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday.

The minimum temperature is very likely to fall by two to four degrees Celsius in most parts of northwest India during the next two days, informed the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday. "Due to the prevalence of dry north/north-westerly winds, minimum temperatures very likely to fall by two-four degree Celsius over most parts of northwest India during next 2 days," it said. Due to the influence of dry north/north-westerly winds in northwest India, a dense to very dense fog at isolated/few pockets are very likely over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, north Rajasthan, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim and Bihar during next three days. "Cold wave or severe cold wave conditions at isolated pockets also very likely over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and East Madhya Pradesh during next 2 days. Cold Day conditions at isolated pockets also very likely over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar during next two-three days," IMD said. The weather forecasting agency further said a cyclonic circulation is hovering over southwest Bay of Bengal off Tamil Nadu coast in mid-tropospheric levels and a trough runs from cyclonic circulation over central parts of South Arabian Sea and adjoining Equatorial Indian Ocean to Comorin area in lower tropospheric levels. IMD predicted that under its influence scattered to fairly widespread rainfall with moderate thunderstorm and lightning is very likely over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, Kerala, Mahe and Lakshadweep area during next two days and reduction in rainfall activities over these regions thereafter. "Conditions are becoming favourable for the cessation of Northeast monsoon rains over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, Kerala, Mahe, adjoining areas of coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, Rayalaseema and South Interior Karnataka around January 19, 2021," it added.

Minimum temperature very likely to fall by 2-4 degree Celsius in northwest India: IMD

Winter is often pleasing but it can also be bothersome when it comes to your heart. Winter is the time when high-risk people or those with heart issues, may get a heart attack. To top it all, people with heart problems are in the high-risk category and may get sick due to Coronavirus. 
 
The sudden drop in the temperature causes narrowing of peripheral vessels thus putting extra pressure on your heart. This will result in the low supply of oxygen to the heart because of the increased demand of the heart. As a result, your heart will have to make extra efforts to pump oxygen and blood. Hence, those suffering from heart failure can have symptoms which may also lead to loss of life. 
 
According to a study, there is about a 2 per cent increase in the risk of getting heart attacks for every 1.8-degree Fahrenheit decrease in temperature. In 2015, another study revealed that if you compare the coldest month of the year to the warmest month of the year there is a 31 per cent increase in heart attacks in the coldest months. It is the time when one`s blood vessels may contract and this can shoot up your blood pressure putting you at the risk of a heart attack or even a stroke. Even the ones who are unaware of their pre-existing heart conditions are prone to heart diseases in this season. 
 
If one`s body temperature goes below 95 degrees then they will suffer from hypothermia that can take a toll on the heart muscle. Thus, people who spend maximum time in cold weather, especially sports enthusiasts can suffer from accidental hypothermia. This is the stage when the body loses heat faster than it can produce heat causing a dangerously low body temperature; it can prove fatal. People who are more than 60 years with hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, smokers, or tobacco chewers can get chest pain. Another important factor is that emotional stress which will invite a heart attack. 
 
Here`s a plan to keep your heart in top shape during those chilly days. 
 
Stay warm during those colder days: you should exertion in cold weather if you have any existing heart problems. Try to take frequent breaks and stay warm. Wear woollen clothes, caps, and gloves. Or wear layers and even full socks. Keep your house well-heated. Beware of heart attack symptoms like chest pain, nausea, and even drowsiness. Avoid exercising in cold weather. Instead opt for indoor exercises. Do not do any exercises that pressurize your heart. 
 
Monitor your blood pressure on a daily basis: If you are one of them who has a high blood pressure problem, then it is imperative for you to keep an eye on your numbers, as doing so can minimize your risk of a heart attack. Hence, you must take the medications prescribed by the doctor on time. 
 
Restrict alcohol and completely avoid smoking: alcohol may expand the blood vessels in the skin and make you feel warmer by taking out heat from your body`s vital organs. Similarly, smoking leads to atherosclerosis. Not only this, those who smoke can also encounter a heart attack. Smoking reduces the oxygen flow towards the heart, raises your heart rate and blood pressure. 
 
Eat well: Opt for fresh fruit and vegetables, seeds, nuts, legumes, and pulses. Drink a warm soup or eat hot meals. Avoid eating food jam-packed with salt or sugar. Say NO to processed, junk, and oily foods. Cut down on saturated fats and maintain an optimum weight. 
 
Try relaxation techniques like yoga and meditation as it will reduce your stress and help you cool down. 
 
(The author, Bipeenchandra Bhamre, is Consultant Cardiac Surgeon at Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital and Research Centre in Mumbai) 
 
 
&nbsp;

Winter is often pleasing but it can also be bothersome when it comes to your heart. Winter is the time when high-risk people or those with heart issues, may get a heart attack.

Winter is often pleasing but it can also be bothersome when it comes to your heart. Winter is the time when high-risk people or those with heart issues, may get a heart attack. To top it all, people with heart problems are in the high-risk category and may get sick due to Coronavirus. The sudden drop in the temperature causes narrowing of peripheral vessels thus putting extra pressure on your heart. This will result in the low supply of oxygen to the heart because of the increased demand of the heart. As a result, your heart will have to make extra efforts to pump oxygen and blood. Hence, those suffering from heart failure can have symptoms which may also lead to loss of life. According to a study, there is about a 2 per cent increase in the risk of getting heart attacks for every 1.8-degree Fahrenheit decrease in temperature. In 2015, another study revealed that if you compare the coldest month of the year to the warmest month of the year there is a 31 per cent increase in heart attacks in the coldest months. It is the time when one`s blood vessels may contract and this can shoot up your blood pressure putting you at the risk of a heart attack or even a stroke. Even the ones who are unaware of their pre-existing heart conditions are prone to heart diseases in this season. If one`s body temperature goes below 95 degrees then they will suffer from hypothermia that can take a toll on the heart muscle. Thus, people who spend maximum time in cold weather, especially sports enthusiasts can suffer from accidental hypothermia. This is the stage when the body loses heat faster than it can produce heat causing a dangerously low body temperature; it can prove fatal. People who are more than 60 years with hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, smokers, or tobacco chewers can get chest pain. Another important factor is that emotional stress which will invite a heart attack. Here`s a plan to keep your heart in top shape during those chilly days. Stay warm during those colder days: you should exertion in cold weather if you have any existing heart problems. Try to take frequent breaks and stay warm. Wear woollen clothes, caps, and gloves. Or wear layers and even full socks. Keep your house well-heated. Beware of heart attack symptoms like chest pain, nausea, and even drowsiness. Avoid exercising in cold weather. Instead opt for indoor exercises. Do not do any exercises that pressurize your heart. Monitor your blood pressure on a daily basis: If you are one of them who has a high blood pressure problem, then it is imperative for you to keep an eye on your numbers, as doing so can minimize your risk of a heart attack. Hence, you must take the medications prescribed by the doctor on time. Restrict alcohol and completely avoid smoking: alcohol may expand the blood vessels in the skin and make you feel warmer by taking out heat from your body`s vital organs. Similarly, smoking leads to atherosclerosis. Not only this, those who smoke can also encounter a heart attack. Smoking reduces the oxygen flow towards the heart, raises your heart rate and blood pressure. Eat well: Opt for fresh fruit and vegetables, seeds, nuts, legumes, and pulses. Drink a warm soup or eat hot meals. Avoid eating food jam-packed with salt or sugar. Say NO to processed, junk, and oily foods. Cut down on saturated fats and maintain an optimum weight. Try relaxation techniques like yoga and meditation as it will reduce your stress and help you cool down. (The author, Bipeenchandra Bhamre, is Consultant Cardiac Surgeon at Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital and Research Centre in Mumbai)

How winter impacts heart patients

In these hectic days, where social media has become the country’s principal pre-occupation, the time for physical exercise is shockingly scanty.&nbsp;

No surprise then that there is an outbreak of lifestyle diseases such as heart ailments, diabetes and obesity that plague the country’s middle-aged population across the economic divide, a trend that was once only the prerogative of the rich and super-rich.

Oscar Wilde’s epigrammatic expression of treating all trivial things very seriously and all serious things of life with sincere and studied triviality, applies to India of today more than anywhere else.

In the ongoing Parliament session, when a question was asked in the Lok Sabha by BJP MP, Rathva Gitaben Vajesingbhai, as to whether the incidence of obesity is increasing among not only among the middle-aged, but also the youth in urban areas, the minister of state of health and family welfare, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, revealed some eye-popping details.&nbsp;

Citing the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) report on the health of the nation’s states, he said that the contribution of high body mass index (BMI) in total disability-adjusted life year (DALY) of India has increased from 0.8 per cent in 1990 to 3.6 per cent in 2016.

As per the National Family Health Survey (NHFS)-4 (2015-16), there has been a spurt in obesity in both males (from 9.3 per cent to 18.6 per cent) and females (from 12.6 per cent to 20.7 per cent) in the age group 15-49 years in comparison to NFHS-3.

Three years since then, the situation on the ground appears grim as the age-group caught in the obesity syndrome ranges between 15 to 49, the most active and productive years in the life of an individual. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Questions have been asked as to whether being obese is one’s fate or a genetic defect or eating disorder triggered by binge hogging and irregular work schedule or inability to maintain work-life balance through healthy habits.&nbsp;

Whatever the reason, the result is often fatal if the root cause is not diagnosed quickly and remedial measures put in place before it develops into a complicated chain reaction that affects the functioning of a human being’s vital organs and the physical system.

A practicing bariatric surgeon in the United Kingdom, Dr Kamal Mahawar, who has done a dissertation on “Fight With Fat”, recently told this author that India is the third most obese country in the world with 3.8% of Indian men and 4.2% of Indian women wrestling with over-weight issues that affect their physical and psychical wellness.&nbsp;

He blames the entry and entrenchment of fast-food outlets — both desi and videshi — as responsible for the swell in obesity numbers across the country and suggests that fast food products churned out by multinationals and the processed food industry, be taxed heavily. &nbsp;

For the desi shops, dishing out such ready-to-eat heavily-layered masala food items, Mahawar advocates food labeling with mandatory display of calorie count as well as carbohydrate, fat and protein ingredients in granular detail, so that consumers have an informed option before going on a binge on unwholesome food stuff that becomes addictive over time.&nbsp;

Ramming home some native wisdom and home truths on desirable dietary habits, the doctor contends that raw food typically releases calories slowly into the system, while processed and cooked food leads to abrupt surges in the release and absorption of calories by the body. Fending off the obesity epidemic is feasible, if one does not ignore traditional Indian culinary practices and consumption patterns, which has benefitted the human system.&nbsp;

Be that as it may, the bugle on bulge and the battle ahead to fight the fat as raised by Dr Mahawar and the concerned MP in the country’s Parliament have not come a day too soon. India’s goal of reaching the $5-trillion dollar economy mark before long would sound like a pipe dream if the dietary habits of its productive and robust population do not change for the better to raise the total productivity of the economy.&nbsp;

No doubt, the Modi-2 government has its tasks cut out in this battle of the bulge. It has already set in motion the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Strokes (NPCDCS), which is implemented for interventions up to district level under the National Health Mission (NHM).&nbsp;

NPCDCS stresses on awareness creation for behaviour and lifestyle changes, alongside early diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, for which obesity constitutes a major risk factor.&nbsp;

Considering the staggering shortfall in infrastructure and human resources, including the number of doctors for taking up primary health needs of the vast population and perennially under-funding in rural health infrastructure, the awareness campaign to take the fight against fat is faced with stark ground realities.&nbsp;

With diabetes and obesity melding in a seamless manner, Dr Mahawar cautions against the outbreak of ‘diabesity’ to focus attention on the dismal lack of support system for innumerable poor patients who suffer from these twin ailments.&nbsp;

It is time the authorities woke up to the menace of obesity, not only in urban but also in rural areas, so that preventive and curative measures could be initiated on a war-footing to ensure India’s tryst with a mega-sized economy tag. 
 
(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-india-s-big-battle-of-the-bulge-2776726">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

In these hectic days, where social media has become the country’s principal pre-occupation, the time for physical exercise is shockingly scanty. No surprise then that there is an outbreak of lifestyle diseases such as heart ailments, diabetes and obesity that plague the country’s middle-aged population across the economic divide, a trend that was once only the prerogative of the rich and super-rich.

In these hectic days, where social media has become the country’s principal pre-occupation, the time for physical exercise is shockingly scanty. No surprise then that there is an outbreak of lifestyle diseases such as heart ailments, diabetes and obesity that plague the country’s middle-aged population across the economic divide, a trend that was once only the prerogative of the rich and super-rich. Oscar Wilde’s epigrammatic expression of treating all trivial things very seriously and all serious things of life with sincere and studied triviality, applies to India of today more than anywhere else. In the ongoing Parliament session, when a question was asked in the Lok Sabha by BJP MP, Rathva Gitaben Vajesingbhai, as to whether the incidence of obesity is increasing among not only among the middle-aged, but also the youth in urban areas, the minister of state of health and family welfare, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, revealed some eye-popping details. Citing the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) report on the health of the nation’s states, he said that the contribution of high body mass index (BMI) in total disability-adjusted life year (DALY) of India has increased from 0.8 per cent in 1990 to 3.6 per cent in 2016. As per the National Family Health Survey (NHFS)-4 (2015-16), there has been a spurt in obesity in both males (from 9.3 per cent to 18.6 per cent) and females (from 12.6 per cent to 20.7 per cent) in the age group 15-49 years in comparison to NFHS-3. Three years since then, the situation on the ground appears grim as the age-group caught in the obesity syndrome ranges between 15 to 49, the most active and productive years in the life of an individual. Questions have been asked as to whether being obese is one’s fate or a genetic defect or eating disorder triggered by binge hogging and irregular work schedule or inability to maintain work-life balance through healthy habits. Whatever the reason, the result is often fatal if the root cause is not diagnosed quickly and remedial measures put in place before it develops into a complicated chain reaction that affects the functioning of a human being’s vital organs and the physical system. A practicing bariatric surgeon in the United Kingdom, Dr Kamal Mahawar, who has done a dissertation on “Fight With Fat”, recently told this author that India is the third most obese country in the world with 3.8% of Indian men and 4.2% of Indian women wrestling with over-weight issues that affect their physical and psychical wellness. He blames the entry and entrenchment of fast-food outlets — both desi and videshi — as responsible for the swell in obesity numbers across the country and suggests that fast food products churned out by multinationals and the processed food industry, be taxed heavily. For the desi shops, dishing out such ready-to-eat heavily-layered masala food items, Mahawar advocates food labeling with mandatory display of calorie count as well as carbohydrate, fat and protein ingredients in granular detail, so that consumers have an informed option before going on a binge on unwholesome food stuff that becomes addictive over time. Ramming home some native wisdom and home truths on desirable dietary habits, the doctor contends that raw food typically releases calories slowly into the system, while processed and cooked food leads to abrupt surges in the release and absorption of calories by the body. Fending off the obesity epidemic is feasible, if one does not ignore traditional Indian culinary practices and consumption patterns, which has benefitted the human system. Be that as it may, the bugle on bulge and the battle ahead to fight the fat as raised by Dr Mahawar and the concerned MP in the country’s Parliament have not come a day too soon. India’s goal of reaching the $5-trillion dollar economy mark before long would sound like a pipe dream if the dietary habits of its productive and robust population do not change for the better to raise the total productivity of the economy. No doubt, the Modi-2 government has its tasks cut out in this battle of the bulge. It has already set in motion the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Strokes (NPCDCS), which is implemented for interventions up to district level under the National Health Mission (NHM). NPCDCS stresses on awareness creation for behaviour and lifestyle changes, alongside early diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, for which obesity constitutes a major risk factor. Considering the staggering shortfall in infrastructure and human resources, including the number of doctors for taking up primary health needs of the vast population and perennially under-funding in rural health infrastructure, the awareness campaign to take the fight against fat is faced with stark ground realities. With diabetes and obesity melding in a seamless manner, Dr Mahawar cautions against the outbreak of ‘diabesity’ to focus attention on the dismal lack of support system for innumerable poor patients who suffer from these twin ailments. It is time the authorities woke up to the menace of obesity, not only in urban but also in rural areas, so that preventive and curative measures could be initiated on a war-footing to ensure India’s tryst with a mega-sized economy tag. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

It is time authorities woke up to the menace of obesity

Former captain and Olympian hockey goalkeeper Mansoor Ahmed's heart ailment can be treated in Pakistan and there is no need for him to travel to India for a heart transplant, the authorities here have informed him.

Two days back, Mansoor made a passionate appeal to the Indian government to grant him a visa on humanitarian grounds and allow him to travel to India for a heart transplant.

Many in the sporting community and on the social media were surprised by the appeal made by the celebrated goalkeeper who has been suffering from a heart condition since last three years.

Many felt that Pakistan had some of the best heart surgeons and it was unwise of Mansoor to ask the Indian government to issue him a visa to go to India at a time when relations between the two countries was at its lowest ebb.

Surgeon Pervez Chaudhary, a senior professor at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases in Karachi, made it clear that all facilities were available in the institute to treat Mansoor.

He has been shifted to the NCI and we will soon operate on him and insert a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) which is a mechanical pump that is implanted inside a person's chest to help a weakened heart pump blood. We will also carry out the necessary repair so that he can lead a normal life,&nbsp;the surgeon said.

Mansoor, who became a household name in 1994 after heroic saves in penalty stroke shootouts against Germany and Holland in the Champions Trophy and World Cup, has also been assured by Pakistan's former cricket captain Shahid Afridi, who now runs a foundation, that all his medical expenses will be taken care off.&nbsp;

Mansoor made a passionate appeal to the Indian government to grant him a visa

Former captain and Olympian hockey goalkeeper Mansoor Ahmed's heart ailment can be treated in Pakistan and there is no need for him to travel to India for a heart transplant, the authorities here have informed him. Two days back, Mansoor made a passionate appeal to the Indian government to grant him a visa on humanitarian grounds and allow him to travel to India for a heart transplant. Many in the sporting community and on the social media were surprised by the appeal made by the celebrated goalkeeper who has been suffering from a heart condition since last three years. Many felt that Pakistan had some of the best heart surgeons and it was unwise of Mansoor to ask the Indian government to issue him a visa to go to India at a time when relations between the two countries was at its lowest ebb. Surgeon Pervez Chaudhary, a senior professor at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases in Karachi, made it clear that all facilities were available in the institute to treat Mansoor. He has been shifted to the NCI and we will soon operate on him and insert a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) which is a mechanical pump that is implanted inside a person's chest to help a weakened heart pump blood. We will also carry out the necessary repair so that he can lead a normal life, the surgeon said. Mansoor, who became a household name in 1994 after heroic saves in penalty stroke shootouts against Germany and Holland in the Champions Trophy and World Cup, has also been assured by Pakistan's former cricket captain Shahid Afridi, who now runs a foundation, that all his medical expenses will be taken care off.

Mansoor's heart ailment can be treated in Pakistan, say authorities

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