It is not unusual that someone who is considered to be pioneer of 2D Echo with first such lab in India, one of the key tests to diagnose heart diseases, has more suggestions with him to keep heart diseases away than most of the other persons. And mantras to keep hearts beating are very simple for Padmashri Dr Govindan Vijayaraghavan. This 70-year old Clinical Cardiologist spoke to The Pioneer at length about heart disease, symptoms and other things on Saturday at the sidelines of 7th National Conference of Indian Association of Clinical Cardiologists held in Ranchi. Here are excerpts:
What are the key indicators that one as a layman should worry about when it comes to heart diseaseIJ
Simple things. Are you overweightIJ That’s number one. Are you exercising adequately…roughly an hour every dayIJ Are you eating too much of fatIJ Do you smokeIJ Never do that. Do you take too much of alcoholIJ Never do that. And these are the basic things an individual should look at. More than that, you should look at, are you taking too much of saltIJ Because Indian food contains too much of salt. By the time you reach at 30 years, you should have measurements of blood pressure, blood sugar, especially if the family members have any history of diabetes or high blood pressure. Yet again, I strongly recommend going for these check-ups along with a heart check-up at least once every year after your 40th birthday.
Heart diseases and their treatments are still beyond the reach of common men. What is your take on this and what are your recommendationsIJ
The Government of India (GoI) has done a lot for the poor patients. Most significantly, they have brought in price restrictions for many of the drugs frequently used in cardiology or high blood pressure. However, there are still around 30 per cent of the patients who can’t afford these. This is where government hospitals must come forward to make uninterrupted availability of these drugs. I think the government must come forward for these 30 per cent of the people.
Don’t you think drug lobbies across the world are powerful enough to defy government’s efforts to keep their own interest aliveIJ
GoI has taken a strong position by putting in price restrictions. Here is the classical example: let us take Clopidogrel useful for patients of heart attack, and patients who go through angioplasty and by-pass surgery. Its original price is Rs. 110. However, the GoI has capped its price to Rs 6.5, which makes it affordable to almost all. Similar restrictions have taken place for blood-pressure related medicines. You are right there that there are lobbies with strong influential capacities. But I am sure the government is capable enough to curb prices of many other diseases over the time.
But what about stent pricesIJ
See, this falls under jurisdiction of Drug Controller of India. Stent companies make it at a cost of anywhere between Rs. 20,000-30,000, and sell it at anywhere between Rs. 70,000-1,10,000. So, Drug Controller of India needs to take a call. These companies must be punished, should be sent to jail.
What, according to you, are the symptoms when someone must rush to hospital as far as cardiac problems are concernedIJ
A: Simple. I use to say in public. If anyone has chest pain in centre for more than 30 minutes, do not go to a doctor but rush to a hospital. Never go to waste time having consultation of doctors in that case.
There are cases of silent heart attacks. How to recognize themIJ
You don’t suffer from pain in silent heart attacks. But this occurs in patients suffering from acute diabetes. Unusual breathing difficulties, fatigue are all equivalent to chest pain. Sometimes patients think that these could be just chest infection. But these are not. See, simple rule. Any of these for more than 30 minutes and you need to go to a doctor immediately.
What are your mantras to keep a heart beatingIJ
Very very simple. Keep yourself active. Physically and mentally. Don’t put weight. Physical exercise is very important.