Press Conference - Focus on youth health education during the 21st MTNL Perfect Health Mela

 Press Conference - Focus on youth health education during the 21st MTNL Perfect Health Mela
Heart Care Foundation of India to focus on youth health education during the 21^st MTNL Perfect Health Mela

New Delhi, July 24, 2014: Heart Care Foundation of India, a leading national non-profit organization committed to making India a healthier and disease free nation, today announced its focus on youth education during the 21^st Perfect Health Mela 2014. The mass community health event, which is scheduled to be held at the Talkotora Indoor Stadium New Delhi, from 15^th -19^th October, 2014 will feature a series of interactive consumer based modules focused on educating over 4000 school and college students about the importance of preventive health and hygiene.

Heart Care Foundation of India to focus on youth health education during the 21st MTNL Perfect Health Mela

New Delhi, July 24, 2014: Heart Care Foundation of India, a leading national non-profit organization committed to making India a healthier and disease free nation, today announced its focus on youth education during the 21^st Perfect Health Mela 2014. The mass community health event, which is scheduled to be held at the Talkotora Indoor Stadium New Delhi, from 15^th -19^th October, 2014 will feature a series of interactive consumer based modules focused on educating over 4000 school and college students about the importance of preventive health and hygiene. 

The underlying reason behind this is the belief that by educating the youth from the very beginning, several life-threatening and lifestyle diseases can be prevented in the future. The various activities planned will be spread across five days and will include a series of inter school and college music, art, creative writing, sports and dance competitions; workshops, lectures and entertainment shows all themed around healthy living. In addition to this, all students who have symptoms of suspected heart disease will be provided free screening and consultation through the Sameer Malik Heart Care Foundation Fund, an initiative by the NGO to ensure that no person dies of heart disease because they cannot otherwise afford treatment. 

Addressing a press conference, Padam Shri, Dr B C Roy & DST National Science and Communication Awardee and the President Heart Care Foundation of India, Dr. KK Aggarwal said, “Heart Care Foundation of India is committed to raising awareness about the various health issues in the country and providing solutions for them. As a part of this endeavor we have been successfully organizing the Perfect Health Mela for twenty years now. In its 21^st edition, the Perfect Health Mela will lay an increased focus on youth education, for early and timely awareness about preventive healthcare can help reduce the disease burden in our country drastically. A leading example of this is the fact that a heart attack takes about 15-20 years to manifest. So if a person wishes to avoid becoming a victim to it at the age of 45, he must start taking preventive measures in school itself. I am extremely thankful to all our sponsors, partners and the participating schools and colleges for without their support none of this would be possible.” 

Adding to this, Chairman of the Standing Committee South Delhi Municipal Cooperation and President of BJP Delhi, Mr. Satish Upadhaya said, ”We congratulate the Heart Care Foundation of India on this noble initiative and hope to keep continue supporting the Perfect Health Mela in the future as well. Young children are the future of our country and it is our duty to educate them about the importance of health and hygiene from their school days itself.” 

The Perfect Health Mela caters to people from all age groups and walks of life and is attended by over 200 organisations each year including those from the State and Central government, PSUs, leading corporates amongst others. This year’s Mela is being organized in association the NDMC, MCD, Health Department Government of Delhi and MTNL and will feature a series of mini-events being organized starting September 2014 as a build up to the Mela.

Speaking at the press conference renowned Bharatnatyam dancer and Padma Shri awardee Geeta Chandran said “With more and more young people being diagnosed with lifestyle disorders in todays day and age it has become extremely important to raise awareness about preventive measures from the onset of ones education and what better a way to do so than through music, dance and art. I am extremely proud to support the Heart Care Foundation of India in their endeavor to make India a healthier nation and wish them all the best for the future. ”

Adding to this the Medical Officer of Health- NDMC, Dr. PK Sharma; Director of Education – NDMC, Ms. Vidushi Chaturvedi and the Medical Officer of Health SDMC, Dr. NK Yadav in a joint statement said, “Health and hygiene are an extremely important part of a person’s life and must be taught at an early stage, for it is extremely difficult to make a person unlearn his habits and acquire new ones once people are older. We are extremely happy to be associated with the 21^st MTNL Perfect Health Mela and hope that through our joint efforts we can help make our country a healthy one”

Others present at the occasion included the Consultant, Birla Vidya Niketan Ms. Tapati Singhi and GM Marketing Corporate- MTNL, Gunjan Sinha.

For more information about the event please visit our website: www.perfecthealthmela.com. Entry to the mela is free for all.

Warning signs of worsening heart failure

If you have heart failure, call your doctor if you notice any of these signs:

• Sudden weight gain (2–3 pounds in one day or 5 or more pounds in one week)
• Extra swelling in the feet or ankles
• Swelling or pain in the abdomen
• Shortness of breath not related to exercise
• Discomfort or trouble breathing when lying flat
• Waking up feeling short of breath
• Coughing or wheezing
• Increased fatigue
• Mental confusion
• Loss of appetite

Seven Behaviors Cut Heart Deaths

Seven heart–healthy behaviors can reduce the risk of death from cardiovascular disease. In a prospective study, by Enrique Artero, PhD, of the University of South Carolina, and colleagues and published in the October issue of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, those who met 3–4 of the American Heart Association’s ‘Simple Seven’ heart–health criteria had a 55% lower risk of cardiovascular mortality than those who met no more than two of those practices over 11 years.

Four core behaviors

1. No smoking
2. Normal body mass index
3. Engaging in physical activity
4. Eating healthfully

Three parameters

1. Cholesterol lower than 200 mg/dL
2. Blood pressure lower than 120/80 mm Hg
3. Not having diabetes

Do not ignore transient brain dysfunction

Transient ischemic attack or TIA or mini paralysis is a brief episode of neurologic dysfunction caused by lack of blood supply in the focal brain or eye, with clinical symptoms typically lasting less than one hour, and without evidence of acute infarction or brain attack

It is a neurological emergency and early recognition can identify patients who may benefit from preventive therapy or from surgery of large vessels such as the carotid artery.

The initial evaluation of suspected TIA and minor non disabling ischemic paralysis includes brain imaging, neurovascular imaging, and a cardiac evaluation. Laboratory testing is helpful in ruling out metabolic and hematologic causes of neurologic symptoms.

TIA or minor non disabling ischemic paralysis is associated with a high early risk of recurrent paralysis. The risk of paralysis in the first two days after TIA is approximately 4 to 10 percent.

Immediate evaluation and intervention after a TIA or minor ischemic reduces the risk of recurrent stroke. Risk factor management is appropriate for all patients. Currently viable strategies include blood pressure reduction, statins, antiplatelet therapy and lifestyle modification, including smoking cessation.

For patients with TIA or ischemic stroke of atherothrombotic, lacunar (small vessel occlusive), or cryptogenic type, antiplatelet agents should be given. For patients with atrial fibrillation and a recent ischemic stroke or TIA, the treatment is blood thinners. For patients with carotid blockages, surgery is needed.

Over 500 people got their heart examined at Mandi House

A free heart checkup camp was organised at Mandi House, Doordarshan Kendra where over 500 people were examined by a team lead by  Padma Shri, Dr. B C Roy National Awardee & DST National Science Communication Awardee, Dr. K K Aggarwal, President Heart Care Foundation of India and Sr National Vice President Indian Medical Association. Hands-on training on CPR 10 was also given to everybody.

  
Addressing a gathering of Doordarshan employees, Dr Aggarwal said that people who have high blood pressure, high sugar or high cholesterol should undergo a comprehensive lifestyle change to reduce their chances of future heart attack and paralysis.

Dr Aggarwal said that loss of erection in males can be the earliest signal of presence of blockages in the heart arteries. People who can walk 2 km, climb two flights of stairs or have a normal sexual life with their partners, do not need any further annual cardiac tests.

Dr Aggarwal said that everyone should learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation and at least 30 lives can be saved in Delhi alone every day if everybody learns CPR 10.

About HCFI : The only National Not for profit NGO, on whose mega community health education events, Govt. of India has released two National commemorative stamps and one cancellation stamp, and who has conducted one to one training on” Hands only CPR” of 88972 people since 1^stNovember 2012.

 

The CPR 10 Mantra is – “within 10 minutes of death, earlier the better; at least for the next 10 minutes, longer the better; compress the centre of the chest of the dead person continuously and effectively with a speed of 10x10 i.e. 100 per minute.”

Heart Care Foundation of India to Support Free Heart Care Interventions

 Institutes Heart Care Foundation Fund to provide financial and technical assistance to heart patients from economically weaker sections of the society

New Delhi, March 20, 2014 - Heart Care Foundation of India, a national not-for-profit organization committed to raising awareness and providing effective solutions for impending health issues in the country, today announced the opening of applications for the ‘Sameer Malik Heart Care Foundation Fund’. A special project instituted under the umbrella of the Heart Care Foundation Fund, the initiative will aim at providing financial assistance to 365 heart patients belonging to economically weaker sections of the society in a period of one year.

Research indicates that in the National Capital of India itself, 19 patients die directly due to heart disease every day. Several of these heart conditions are curable and death is preventable. However not everyone can afford the treatment and hospital costs. A good example of this is the fact that currently in the country 15,000 pacemakers are fitted every year, whereas the current need is over 60,000.  

A one-of-its-kind initiative, the Heart Care Foundation Fund has been instituted to bridge this disparity and provide individuals the ability to live a healthy and disease-free life. The fund will be available to patients suffering from non-emergent planned heart conditions for a maximum amount of Rs 1 lakh per person as one time grant.

Addressing a press conference here, Padma Shri, Dr BC Roy National & DST National Science Communication Awardee, and the President of Heart Care Foundation of India, Dr KK Aggarwal, said, “We at Heart Care Foundation of India are committed to providing assistance and effective solutions to the growing medical problems in the country. As a part of this endeavor, we have launched the Sameer Malik Heart Care Foundation Fund. Through this initiative, we hope to assist at least 365 people each year, who otherwise would not have been able to afford treatment. We are extremely thankful to Mr. Raghuvinder Kataria, Chief  Patron of the fund and without whose support this would not have been possible.”

All the applications to the fund will be assessed by an expert committee comprising of notable individuals chosen on merit basis. Once shortlisted, the funds will then be directly deposited in the bank account of the medical establishments treating the patient.

Speaking at the occasion, Padma Shri Awardee and renowned poet, Dr Ashok Chakradhar said, "In the fast paced and stressful world we live in today, heart disease is increasingly becoming a universal problem.
I strongly believe that every person has the right to get treatment irrespective of their economical status and I am happy that the Heart Care Foundation Fund has been instituted in this direction.”

 

Adding to this, Dr Vijay Trehan, Professor of Cardiology at GB Pant Hospital, said, "With the increasing disparity of the rich and the poor and growing number of heart patients, NGOs can play a critical role in reducing the cardiac deaths in India. I congratulate Heart Care Foundation of India and hope that with this noble initiative they can help more and more heart patients from the economically backward sections of the society.”

The fund will be available for use from April 1, 2014 and will provide financial assistance for stents, bypass surgery, valves, pacemakers or surgery for congenital heart disease. In order to be eligible to apply for the fund, patients can call on the fund helpline number 9958771177, which is open from March 20, 2014, Monday through Saturday from 9-5 PM.

Others present at the launch were Mrs Sumi Malik, Mr Harish Malik, Mr Deep Malik, Naina Aggarwal, Nilesh Aggarwal and Ms Aarti Upadhyay, all Governing and Executive Council Members of the fund.

 About Heart Care Foundation of India

Heart Care Foundation of India is a National NGO working in the field of creating health awareness for people from all walks of life about all aspects of health incorporating all pathies under one roof using low- cost infotainment modules.