A simple drug can buy time in case of heart attack

A simple medication can avert a major problem in case of a heart attack, even if adequate medical support is far off.

Experts at the CARDICON2017, a two-day cardiology conference that began here on Saturday, said this measure was handy and important as adequate medical facilities were not available at all places.

Dr Gaurav Chaudhary said such a drug not only helped give immediate relief but also allowed time for major procedures.

“Supposing a physician diagnoses a patient to be suffering from a heart attack in his clinic but the travel time to a higher centre is about four hours, then it is recommended that the patient be given clot dissolving drug, stabilised and then transported to hospital, as the first hour after the attack is crucial,” he said.

Such guidelines are being given to physicians by way of discussions and seminars as mostly physicians are the first ones to examine such patients.

Lucknow has Lari Cardiology where people reach in a few minutes but in Azamgarh, Ballia and other small towns, advanced treatment facilities are not available.

Speaking on the preventive aspects, the doctors said that physical activity and diet were important for normal functioning of the heart and other vital organs in the body.

“One should walk up to 30-minutes in a day and if one has less time, one can break the walk in two parts and walk 15-minutes in the morning and then in evening,” said Prof Sharad Chandra, organising secretary, CARDICON-2017. On Sunday, experts will share advancement in treatment.