Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 31: A health camp was conducted by Dr. Sushil Sharma at Govt Middle School , R.N. Pura , Jammu where he discussed about the link between the urban city design and cardiovascular diseases. “Cities harbor a dangerous mixture of environmental stressors which must be tackled to save lives and preserve health. Cities have been engine of innovation and wealth but they have also become sources of pollution and disease. There is a connection between bad air, noise, temperature, outdoor light and cardiovascular diseases. The urban planning should incorporate walking spaces, cycling lanes, vertical gardens, and green spaces to promote and protect cardiovascular health,” Dr Sharma, HoD Cardiology in GMC Jammu & SSH said.
Elaborating the theme further, Dr. Sushil revealed that transport emissions are the largest contributor to air pollution in cities around the world. Similarly, the dominant source of noise is road traffic, which increases the risk for ischaemic heart disease.
“Nocturnal light pollution has been linked with hospitalisation and death from coronary heart disease. Meanwhile, concrete urban areas absorb and re-emit the sun’s heat, leading to rising temperatures. These heat island effects have been connected with deaths during heat waves, which can be mitigated with vegetation. Transitioning to cities that promote local living and active and sustainable mobility is increasingly recognized as providing co-benefits for health and the environment by creating more sustainable and livable cities,” he said.
Keeping in view the direct linkage between urban design and prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, city planning is now recognized as one way to tackle adverse health outcomes. Designs include car-free areas and compact cities which shorten travel distances. Limiting car use while increasing public and active transportation (walking and cycling) would promote heart health by reducing air pollution, noise, and heat island effects and increasing physical activity.
He stated that although the Urban Local Bodies are doing their best in Jammu City to create green structures, parking facilities, walking spaces etc. at suitable locations still there is need to understand the dynamics of urban design vis a vis its effect on health outcomes. He even pressed the need to create large awareness on the concept of sustainable cities and the positive role being played by general public in this regard.
More than 200 people were examined, evaluated and advised during the camp. ECG, Blood Sugar and HBA1C was conducted and medicines were also given as per the requirements.
Others who were part of this camp included Dr Nasir Ali Choudhary (Cardiologist), Dr Dhaneshwar Kapoor and Dr Anitpal Singh Assistant Prof.(Ortho). Paramedics and Volunteers include Kamal Sharma, Ranjeet Singh, Rajkumar, Gourav Sharma, Maninder Singh, Mukesh Kumar, Nitesh Gupta, Harvinder Singh, Sunil Pandit, Aman Verma and Akshay Kumar.
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