Strategic Institute for Medical Education and Research (SIPHER) in collaboration with RCTC, Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER, Chandigarh is creating awareness to minimize the risk factors of Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction) and save precious lives by timely intervention. This activity was conducted in month January 2024.

Dr Rakesh Gupta, President and Director of Public Health elaborated that, Knowledge is power. If you understand the risks for heart attack, you can take steps to improve your health. Risk factors are traits and lifestyle habits that can increase your chance of having a heart attack. So, it’s important to know them. You can change some risk factors, some you can’t. The first step is to talk to your health care professional, which can help you reduce, control or prevent as many risk factors as you can. They may recommend healthy changes to your daily habits, prescribe medication, or both. If you don’t have a primary care physician, you may be able to see someone at a clinic in your community. He further added that, If you’re between 40 and 75 years old and have never had a heart attack, ask to have your risk of a cardiovascular event assessed in the next 10 years. Traditional risk factors for heart attack include: Diabetes High blood pressure, Overweight or obesity and Lipid imbalance or High cholesterol with an acronym “DHOL”. The answer to the problem is simple, Behavioral Change, Happiness, Active Lifestyle, Nutrition, Glucose control, Risk management and Abstinence from Tobacco & alcohol with acronym of “BHANGRA”

Dr Sandy Gupta, MBBS MD FRCP, Consultant Cardiologist at Whipps Cross and St Bartholomew’s Hospitals since 1999. He completed his undergraduate medical degree at St George’s Hospital Medical School in 1988, and his clinical training in Cardiology has included posts at St Bartholomew’s, King’s College and St. George’s Hospitals. He has been involved in the research area of ‘inflammation and heart disease’ and was awarded a British Heart Foundation (BHF) research fellowship. He is also the author of text books, numerous published papers, editorials and several book chapters. He has also delivered over 250 invited guest lectures in major scientific symposia in over 60 different countries worldwide. He has recorded an awareness video for SIPHER on “Minimizing the risk factors of Heart Attack and timely intervention to save lives”.