Air Pollution is a Major Cause of Heart Attacks in Karnataka

“Inhaling polluted air is nothing but urban smoking, and is as bad as smoking. The incidence of heart attacks is three to five times more in smokers than in non-smokers,” said Ajit Mullasari S., director of cardiology, The Madras Medical Mission, Chennai. He was speaking at press meet to announce the launch of STEMI (ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction) India programme for Karnataka, aimed at speedy diagnosis and treatment of heart attack patients in rural areas. Dr. Mullasari attributed the increasing incidents of heart attack among the young to urbanisation and rising pollution levels in cities.

While treatment for heart attack is one of the most challenging emergencies for a doctor, if it is treated promptly and appropriately, it can result in significant reduction in death and disability, said Thomas Alexander, head of the department of cardiology at Kovai Medical Centre and Hospital.

The State-run Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences will be a major player in developing the heart attack management programme for Karnataka under STEMI. Institute director C.N. Manjunath said the programme will initially take off in Bengaluru, Mysuru and Kalaburagi districts. The programme has been running successfully in Tamil Nadu for the last three years, and was started in Telangana last year, Dr. Manjunath said, adding that it would be rolled out in Karnataka in the next two months. To train doctors to manage heart attacks and help hospitals develop ‘Heart attack teams’ to efficiently manage high-risk patients, STEMI India is conducting a two-day training programme in the city from Saturday.

Read the full article @ the Hindu