Bangalore, 15/4 . The Thinkers’ Club, in its 102nd session over the Zoom Platform discussed on a rampant disease, that affects all citizens of the world. This disease is partly a byproduct of the present age, hasty life.
Dr. Sura Kishor Mishra, the Professor & Head of the Department, Cardiology Department, SCB Medical College, Cuttack was the Chief Speaker of the meet. Dr. Mishra, spoke elaborately about the cardiac diseases, symptoms, precautions and care of the affected people. It was a narrative presentation in which all of the participants took active interest.
The heart in a human body is a vital and important organ. The basic function of the heart is to pump blood. The blood is collected from the entire body and pumped to the lungs. The carbon dioxide in the blood is removed in the lungs and the blood is oxygenated. The oxygenated blood which is referred as fresh blood is pumped to various organs of the body. The blood stream out of the heart also carries nutrients to various cells of the body. The heart consists of four chambers, each separated by valves which direct the flow of blood.
Conditions affecting the heart include coronary heart disease, angina, heart attack, heart failure, heart valve diseases, abnormal heart rhythms including atrial fibrillation, heart inflammation, congenital heart disease (present from birth) and rheumatic heart disease.
The heart is about the size of a clenched fist, and weighs between 300 and 450 g. It lies in the middle of the chest, behind and slightly to the left of the breastbone.
A person of average body weight and size contains about five liters of blood. This blood passes through the heart every minute. When necessary, such as during exercise, the heart can pump up to four times that amount per minute.
Symptoms of heart disease
‘Heart disease’ is a broad term for different conditions affecting the heart.
Different heart conditions can have different symptoms.
It’s important to be aware of the following symptoms, which can be a warning sign of a medical emergency, including a heart attack:
Chest discomfort or pain. This can feel like uncomfortable pressure, aching, numbness, squeezing, fullness or pain in the chest. This discomfort can spread to the arms, neck, jaw, shoulders or back. It can last for several minutes or come and go.
Shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing (with or without chest discomfort) Racing heart or a feeling of the heart pounding or fluttering in the chest (palpitations) Light headedness, dizziness, feeling faint
Feeling anxious Nausea, indigestion, vomiting.
Sweating or a cold sweat.
When such symptoms are seen, the patient should be referred to qualified health care personnel like doctors, nurses etc. in emergency, the patient can be given aspirin tablets after consulting a doctor over phone. If there is a problem of clot, aspirin can dissolve such clot immediately and allow flow of blood immediately. A line of caution, if the patient is under other medication, it may react with aspirin.
Obesity, Diabetes and Hyper tension, can aggravate cardiac diseases. To keep oneself healthy, it is required to take proper diet, take proper rest, free from stress and anxiety. Proper exercise is also vital and necessity. When the signs of the symptom are seen immediate step is to meet a doctor and make a thorough check. After the age of 40, it is advised to have regular health checkups periodically and lid a healthy life. The signs of cardiac problems should not be taken lightly and medical services need to be immediately summoned.
The meeting was presided by Shree Barada Prasanna Das, the President of the Thinkers’ Club. Mr Das, expressed his satisfaction over the discussions and commented it as inspiring.
Dr Prasanna Kumar Das, the President of the State Senior Citizens’ Federation participated in the discussion and said, Cardiac Problems are rising these days due to change in life style, unhealthy food, lack of exercise and work related stress. The General Secretary of the Federation, Shree Raj Kishore Samantray, Professor Arnapurna Devi Pande, also participated in the discussion. According to her, these discussions carry weight and the Club is moving in a right direction by enlightening the senior citizens on a topic where they are affected most. She expected more such discussions in future.
Many dignitaries were present in the meet. Many more participated in the U.Tube channel.
The meeting ended with vote of thanks by Manorama Choudhury, an Odiya Literati from Bouston.
