Latest news with #PostGraduateInstituteofMedicalEducationandResearch
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh: A single hookah puff equal to 30-40 of cigarette, warns PGIMER
One puff of hookah is equivalent to taking 30-40 cigarettes puffs in one go, experts at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) have warned. Though serving hookah in any commercial establishments is banned in the tricity, raids have revealed easy availability of hookah and other tobacco products in the market, with many bars and clubs serving them to customers. On the eve of 37th World No Tobacco Day, Dr Sonu Goel, director, Resource Centre for Tobacco Control (RCTC) and professor at department of community medicine and public health, PGIMER, spoke on this year's theme: 'Unmasking the appeal: Exposing industry tactics on tobacco and nicotine products'. Goel explained that the effects of tobacco on the body can be seen within 20 minutes of its consumption, including hiked pulse rate. 'Tobacco is behind 70% chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) cases, a lung condition causing respiratory issues. Of all oral cancer cases, 80% are caused by tobacco consumption, and it is responsible for around 50% of pulmonary cardiac consumers are four times more prone to getting severe tuberculosis than non-users,' he further cautioned. He highlighted that despite these dangers, companies often did not carry hazard warnings for tobacco products other than cigarettes. According to the Global Adult Tobacco survey, the prevalence of tobacco use in India is 28.6% and 11% in Chandigarh. Every year in India, 13 lakh preventable deaths are occurring due to tobacco, he shared. Heated tobacco products Goel said that as per the provisions of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), companies must carry hazard warning on the cover of tobacco products. He pointed out that companies, however, were not issuing this warning on heated tobacco products (HTP) as they claim that the COTPA covers only cigarettes not HTP. He explained that unlike cigarettes, HTPs were consumed by heating rather than burning, which also had detrimental effects on the body. 'Slim cigarettes, vapes, just as dangerous Dr Sonu Goel said despite the tobacco content in a slim cigarette being equivalent to any other cigarette, they were packaged and marketed in a more appealing way. He highlighted that with a slim look, choice of colours and flavours, these cigarettes were given the impression of being less harmful than regular cigarettes, which is not the case. Goel added that filtered cigarettes did not filter harmful substances, but only the amount of tar to some extent, and a user consumed equal content of harmful chemicals from filtered and non-filtered cigarettes. Similarly, e-cigarettes, commonly known as vapes, which also contain tobacco and nicotine, were marketed and sold by companies as a way to combat tobacco addiction. However, given the presence of high levels of nicotine in them, use of vapes can also lead to serious health issues, including cardiac and lung problems. 'E-cigarettes are also banned under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019. However, due to poor enforcement, vapes are easily available in the market,' pointed out Dr Goel.
Hindustan Times
19-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh: PGI planning to launch navigation app for Sarathi volunteers
The Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research is planning to launch a navigation app for its volunteers of Sarathi project —a volunteer-based programme aimed at improving patient navigation within the hospital. Over 350 students have been enrolled from different educational institutions to help manage the patient flow in the hospital and improving the overall experience of patients. Volunteers are designated at important locations in PGI, including the new OPD building, Nehru block. They help in easing the patient flow during the peak hours by helping the patients with directions. Presently, the volunteers depend on hospital staff for accurate locations and map details provided to them. So now the institute is planning to launch a navigation app for them. Deputy director, administration Pankaj Rai said, 'With the app, location will be easily accessible to volunteers, and they will further help the patients with it. In addition to navigation, we are planning to have a feedback system where patients would be able to rate their overall experience.' The app is being designed for the Sarathi volunteers only for now. Whether it will be expanded further to patients will be decided later, added Rai. The project was launched in May 2024. Nestled within the bustling environment of PGIMER, the initiative brought together over 350 students from diverse educational backgrounds, including local schools, colleges and the National Institute of Nursing (NINE).
Hindustan Times
10-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh PGIMER deputes 13-member medical team to J&K
A 13-member medical team of doctors, nursing officers and transport staff from the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) has been deputed to Jammu & Kashmir for national duty, officials said on Friday. The medical team comprises of eight doctors from different specialities, two nursing officers and three employees for transport support. The team includes Dr Amit Sharma and Dr Sachin from anaesthesia; Dr Swapnesh Sahu and Dr Gokul Krishan Hari from general/vascular surgery; Dr Himanshu Kanwar and Dr Udit K Jayant from Orthopaedics; Dr Mahesh and Dr Sachin C Nair from plastic surgery. Nursing officers Narinder Tyagi and Ramesh Kumar will assist in patient care and transport support will be provided by Shiv Nath, Pradeep Kumar and Lakhvir Singh. The team will report to Dr Ashutosh Gupta, principal-cum-dean, Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu. The tertiary care hospital has already been providing assistance to the hospitals in Jammu and Kashmir. On Thursday, it sent five ambulances with first aid kits to J&K. PGIMER has been on high alert after Operation Sindoor, said medical superintendent Dr Vipin Kaushal.
Hindustan Times
05-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Darker nail shades can affect oximeter reading, finds PGIMER study
Applying nail polish can lead to the display of inaccurate oxygen saturation (SpO2) readings on pulse oximeters, a recent study conducted by the department of pulmonary medicine at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) has uncovered. According to a systematic review led by a team of doctors, including Dr Ashutosh N Aggarwal, Dr Ritesh Aggarwal, Dr Sahajal Dhooria, Dr Kuruswamy T Prasad, Dr Inderpaul S Sehgal and Dr Vallappan Muthu, wearing nail polish, especially in darker shades, can interfere with oximeter readings. The study, conducted without any external funding, was presented during the researchday celebrations at the institute in March. The PGIMER team reviewed 117 studies published up to May 2022 across medical databases like PubMed, EMBASE, and CINAHL, narrowing down its analysis to 21 suitable studies. These studies examined the effects of various nail polish colours, including black, blue, red, and yellow on SpO2 readings. A pulse oximeter is a small, non-invasive device that measures blood oxygen saturation level (SpO2) and heart rate. The team concluded that while not all nail polishes affect oximeter readings equally, dark-coloured nail polish, particularly black, poses a notable concern as it can show artificially lower SpO2 levels. This could potentially lead to misjudgment in critical cases, where an accurate assessment of a patient's oxygen levels is crucial. How to ensure accurate measurement As per PGIMER study, black nail polish was found to reduce oxygen saturation readings by an average of 0.57 points, an impact deemed statistically significant. Lighter or less intense shades, such as yellow, brown and green, had minimal to negligible effects on the readings. The researchers advise healthcare professionals and patients not to rely solely on pulse oximeter readings if anyone is wearing dark nail polish. They recommend either removing the polish or taking the measurement from an unpainted finger. The finding has important implications for at-home health monitoring, especially when pulse oximeters have become a household essential since the Covid-19 pandemic. Doctors emphasise that even seemingly minor factors like nail polish should be taken seriously when assessing SpO2 levels.
