‘Health checks must': Heart attacks among gym-goers trigger advisory by Punjab govt
The advisory, unveiled in Ludhiana on Thursday by state health minister Dr Balbir Singh, is the outcome of a joint study conducted by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) and Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH).
Commissioned by the Bhagwant Mann-led government, the advisory is part of its larger mission, 'Swasth Punjab – Surakshit Punjab', aiming to educate citizens to exercise caution while embarking on a fitness lifestyle.
The government has directed all gyms and sports centres in the state to prominently display the advisory to remind fitness enthusiasts of safe practices and health precautions.
'The idea of this advisory came from the troubling rise in sudden cardiac incidents among fitness enthusiasts,' said Dr Singh.
'Sudden cardiac arrests during exercise or sports are not mere accidents, but often the result of undiagnosed medical conditions, unregulated dietary choices and unchecked supplement use,' said the health minister, while pointing to prevailing high-pressure lifestyles, unhealthy diets and lack of medical screenings that were putting the young generation at serious risk.
The joint study revealed a worrying pattern: In many such cases, the individuals lacked medical fitness screening before taking up intense exercise routines. In many cases, they were also consuming performance enhancers, energy drinks or unsafe supplements.
Experts also analysed air quality inside gyms and discovered that poor ventilation and indoor air pollution could also contribute to sudden health emergencies.
The advisory makes several key recommendations, including medical screening before enrolling in gym programmes, proper warm-up and cool-down routines, avoiding unverified supplements, energy drinks and steroids, and staying well-hydrated.
It also warns against the growing trend of quick-result supplements, which are often consumed without medical advice and pose serious health threats.
CPR training at gyms underway across state
Recognising the importance of emergency response, the health department has also launched a state-wide initiative to train gym users, trainers and young athletes in CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) and BLS (Basic Life Support). These life-saving skills are now being taught at gyms and sports centres across Punjab, ensuring that timely action can be taken during emergencies.
'Most gym-related cardiac arrests stem from preventable missteps. A basic understanding of body limits, pre-workout screenings, hydration and rest cycles can make the difference between health and hazard,' said Dr Bishav Mohan, a cardiologist from DMCH.
PAU vice-chancellor Satbir Singh Gosal called the advisory a 'health capsule' designed after a series of expert consultations. GADVASU vice-chancellor Jatinder Paul Singh Gill lauded the rigour with which experts from cardiology, nephrology, gastroenterology and nutrition debated complex health concerns for the advisory.
The event was also attended by Punjab health director Dr Hitinder Kaur, Ludhiana civil surgeon Dr Ramandeep Kaur, DMCH principal Dr Gurpreet Singh Wander, and other senior health and academic officials.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
RML Hospital becomes first Central govt hospital to achieve NABH full accreditation as per 5th Edition Standards
New Delhi: The Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences (ABVIMS) & Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi, has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first hospital under the Central Government to receive Full Accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) as per the latest 5th Edition Standards . Dr (Prof.) Ashok Kumar, Director, stated, "This full NABH accreditation makes ABVIMS & Dr. RML Hospital the first hospital under the Central Government to achieve this status. He also outlined the journey of quality improvement undertaken so far, ranging from infrastructure upgrades to staff training " He ensures that "patient care and safety meet the highest national standards." Dr Ashok also emphasised his vision regarding the future road map of quality improvement. Dr (Prof.) Vivek Dewan, MS, emphasised the importance of the NABH process in improving patient safety , clinical protocols, and service delivery. He acknowledged that over the past two years, since the initiation of the full accreditation process, every member of the organisation, from frontline staff, security guards, and nursing officers to senior management, has contributed significantly to achieving this recognition. Dr Arti Maria, Dean, expressed that this achievement is only the starting point in the hospital's ongoing journey towards excellence in quality and safety. She pledged that efforts for continuous quality improvement will continue relentlessly to ensure maximum benefits for both patients and hospital staff. Dr (Prof.) Sameek Bhattacharya, Chairman of the Quality & Accreditation Committee, detailed the extensive preparation undertaken. He said, "31 hospital departments developed their Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in alignment with NABH standards. Over 150 forms and formats were created to implement quality systems." "Comprehensive training programs were carried out, including Basic Life Support (BLS), Fire Safety, Code Pink (infant abduction response), Code Blue (cardiac arrest), Code Red (fire emergency), Code Yellow, and Code Violet assessors audited 561 standards across 36 departments and 15 clinical buildings," he said. "Staff across all levels were evaluated for knowledge and were required to demonstrate practical drills to prove the effectiveness of the training," he added. Dr Parul Goyel, Nodal Officer for Quality & Accreditation, stressed that this was a genuine on-ground transformation. She highlighted the active contribution of Nodal Officers from each department, Heads of Departments (HODs), nursing officers, doctors, resident doctors, and even non-clinical teams such as security guards, ambulance services, procurement and stores, pharmacy, laboratory, and radiology. She recounted real-life examples where trained staff successfully handled a Code Pink situation and multiple Code Blues, saving lives through the systems and drills developed for accreditation. She also noted that the quality culture has now become ingrained among all staff, ensuring sustainability.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
Israeli forces step up Gaza City bombardment as Egypt hosts Hamas
Israeli forces demolished houses in eastern areas of Gaza City overnight, killing at least 11 people in aerial and tank fire, local health authorities said, as the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas told mediators it was ready to resume ceasefire talks. Residents and medics said eight people were killed when Israeli tank shelling hit a house in Zeitoun neighbourhood, while a man was killed in an airstrike on a building in the nearby Shejaia suburb. Two other people were killed in tank shelling in Tuffah, a third Gaza City suburb. Local health authorities said they had received desperate calls from families trapped in the Zeitoun area, including from people saying they were wounded, and that ambulance vehicles could not reach them. 'The explosions are almost non-stop in eastern Gaza areas, mainly Zeitoun and Shejaia. The occupation (Israel) is erasing homes there, as we hear from some friends who live nearby,' said Ismail, 40, from Gaza City. 'At night, we pray for our safety as the sounds of explosions get louder and closer. We hope Egypt can secure a ceasefire deal before we are all dead,' he told Reuters via a chat app. More than 22 months into Israel's military offensive in Gaza, residents have also been grappling with a worsening hunger crisis. Four more people died of starvation and malnutrition in the territory in the past 24 hours, Gaza's health ministry said on Thursday. That took the total to 239, including 106 children, since the war began, it said. Israel disputes malnutrition and hunger figures reported by the health ministry in Gaza, which Hamas took control of in 2007. Israel's planned seizure of Gaza City – which it took in the early days of the war before withdrawing – is probably weeks away, officials say. In an effort to avert the planned military escalation, Egypt has been trying to revive a push for a ceasefire in Gaza, hosting a Hamas delegation led by the group's chief negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya. He told mediators in Cairo on Wednesday that Hamas was ready to resume ceasefire talks to achieve a temporary truce, and was open to discussing a comprehensive agreement that would end the war, Egyptian and Palestinian sources said. The latest round of indirect talks in Qatar ended in deadlock in late July with Israel and Hamas trading blame over the lack of progress on a US proposal for a 60-day truce and hostage release deal. Gaps between the sides appear to remain wide on key issues, including the extent of any Israeli military withdrawal and demands for Hamas to disarm. The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Israel's offensive against Hamas in Gaza since then has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- The Hindu
Balakrishna launches Amaravati campus works of Basavatarakam Cancer Hospital
Hindupur MLA and actor Nandamuri Balakrishna on Wednesday, August 13, launched the construction of the Amaravati campus of the Basavatarakam Indo-American Cancer Hospital and Research Institute at Thullur. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Balakrishna said the new facility would be built on 21 acres and envisioned as a Centre of Excellence for comprehensive cancer treatment, research, and patient-centric care. The hospital would combine advanced medical technology with a multidisciplinary approach, housed in a purpose-built modern infrastructure, he added. The project will be completed in two phases. In the first phase, a 500-bed facility offering oncology services will be set up, adopting an integrated care model covering prevention, early detection, treatment, and rehabilitation. This phase is being developed with an investment of ₹750 crore, and operations are expected to start by 2028. In the second phase, an additional 500 beds will be added along with specialised departments, research wings, and enhanced patient amenities, creating a regional referral centre for complex and advanced cancer cases. According to the hospital, the foundation stone for the cancer care facility was laid in 2019 after the TDP government allotted land. However, construction was delayed due to unforeseen circumstances. With the TDP-led NDA government back in power in the State, all hurdles have now been cleared, and the government has allotted an additional six acres for the project. Mr. Balakrishna, who is also chairman of the cancer hospital, launched the works by performing traditional puja rituals. Ministers P. Narayana and Satya Kumar Yadav, Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath, Heritage Foods Executive Director Nara Brahmani, Trust Board member Nori Dattatreyudu, and others participated in the ceremony.
