DEBATES ON STENT, DIET

THERE IS A new debate on the role of angioplasty in stable diseases. Based on various studies, a view is emerging that using a stent may not be the best solution for all types of chest pains. “Where patients have stable heart diseases, there is no use doing angioplasty,” says Dr Rajeev Menon, cardiologist, chief of medical services at CARE Group of Hospitals and medical director, CARE HiTech City. Another debate area is diet. Earlier, a carbohydrate-rich diet was favoured, but now the shift is towards a diet rich in proteins and fats.

It is because insulin resistance is directly related to carbohydrates and all extra carbohydrates could be detrimental to health.

Dr Devi Shetty thinks the big debate should be around ensuring the quality of medicines. “It is good that the government is clamping down on medicine prices but what about medicines that do not work?” Citing a life-saving drug called Warfarin, used to prevent clot formation in artificial valves, he says, “It is made by several companies and doesn’t cost much. But I don’t think anybody can make high-quality Warfarin at such low prices. To deal with quality concerns, we need to monitor the patients constantly.”