Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 17: To substantiate his expedition to sentient the common masses about the ill effects of cardiovascular disease, Dr. Sushil Sharma (HoD Cardiology-GMCH Jammu) held a day long Cardiac camp at CGHS Wellness Centre here today. B B Vyas, Chief Secretary, was the chief guest.
Accompanied by a team of young doctors, paramedics and volunteers, Dr. Sushil Sharma examined members of the CGHS Centre and people of the adjoining locality for the prevalence of cardiac diseases and other health ailments. More than 200 people were screened, evaluated and diagnosed for heart diseases and other health ailments and free medicines were given as per the requirements.
While interacting with the patients, Dr. Sushil stated that heart disease is extremely common in elderly patients and leading cause of their death.
“As the number of elderly persons increases worldwide they will constitute the majority of patients with cardiovascular disease. No doubt the present burden of CVD deaths is an adequate reason for attention but what is more depressing is the rise in mortality rate among the elderly population particularly in the developing world,” he said.
Dr. Sushil added that age is the most important risk factor in developing cardiovascular diseases, with approximately tripling of risk with each decade of life. “It is estimated that 82 percent of people who die of coronary heart disease are 65 and older.”
Dr Sharma elaborated that at the same time the risk of stroke doubles every decade after the age 55 years. He said age-related changes in the cardiovascular system, overt and occult cardiovascular disease and reduced physical activity affect the cardiovascular function in elderly persons.
He further disclosed that with ageing, there is a loss of myocytes in the left and right ventricles, with a progressive increase in myocyte cell volume per nucleus in both ventricles. With ageing, there also is a progressive reduction in the number of pacemaker cells in the sinus node, he added.
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