The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Keep pace with the heart’s rhythm, say cardiologists

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Saturday, Oct 11, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Keep pace with the heart’s rhythm, say cardiologists

R. Sujatha

Specialists discuss various medical options available

If you must binge on junk food, work it off with rigorous exercise
Get tested for BP, cholesterol and glucose levels regularly and adopt a positive lifestyle

CHENNAI: In a couple of decades India could well be the capital of cardiac diseases too, say cardiologists. “Every diabetic is potentially at risk for heart attack,” says V. Chockalingam, chairman emeritus, Dr. MGR Medical University.

Sample this: Cardiologists admit that the use of temporary pacemakers is a “day-to-day activity” in government hospitals. Annually, in three government hospitals in the State, in Madurai and Chennai (Stanley and GGH), around 100 permanent pacemakers are being implanted.

Though currently the permanent implants are recommended only for patients in the 50 years age group, most youngsters admitted for other treatable heart problems also require some kind of intervention.

The World Heart Day observed recently was a platform for cardiologists to discuss the various medical options offered to patients needing treatment for a damaged heart. Cardiologists had the opportunity to learn more about the advances made in the use of implants and latest experiments in treatment of heart attacks.

The heart has its own natural pacemaker called the sinus node that regulates the body’s need for oxygen and nutrients.

The node in the upper chamber of the heart produces electrical impulses that reach the atrium and the ventricle thus ensuring effective coordinated contraction of the heart.

Pacemakers are implanted when the heart rate is too slow or irregular thus making the heart unable to supply the necessary oxygen or nutrients.

Currently government hospitals implant permanent pacemakers only in the older population, in the age group of over 50 years, which exhibits symptoms due to slowing down of the heart.

Such patients report with dizziness, syncope, extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, and inability to take up physical exercise.

Implanting pacemaker is advised when the person’s heartbeat falls as low as 30 or 40 beats per minute instead of the usual 72 beats. At a meeting of the Cardiological Society of India held recently, J. Balachander, head of Cardiology department, JIPMER, Puducherry, also dwelt on the recent advances in treatments.

They include implanting biological pacemakers such as using stem cells to repair sinus node to improve heart function.

“Temporary pacemakers are used when the patient’s pulse rate is low and the blood pressure is not picking up. The pacemaker will be implanted for a day or two until the heart beat picks up,” explains R. Subramanian, head of Cardiology department, Government Stanley Hospital.

Once the heart rate returns to normalcy doctors advice lifestyle changes.

Dr. Chockalingam observes that heart attack is considered the prime killer as it affects youngsters in the age group of 25 to 35.

However, he cites his own studies that have proved that when the affected population adopts a positive lifestyle, there is a reversal in coronary artery diseases.

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