DR MAHENDRA NARAIN HYPERTENSION / HEART DISEASE DETECTION AND TREATMENT PROJECT
Hypertension
WHO 1999 reports that 1 out of every 3 deaths in India is due to heart diseases. Amongst several risk factors associated with this growing menace, hypertension or high blood pressure has been established as a key risk factor for heart diseases.
What is Hypertension?
 Hypertension is synonymous with high blood pressure. Blood pressure is a measure of the force of blood against the walls of the arteries, which are the conduits that carry blood from the heart to other parts of the body.
In some people, the blood cannot flow easily through these arteries. For example, if the arteries are narrowed for some reason, the pressure will go up to keep the blood flowing. This is high blood pressure.
If you have it, you are not alone. Hypertension is a very common condition; however, if left untreated, it can become serious.
What are the symptoms of Hypertension?
If you have hypertension, chances are that you may not have any symptoms at all. Hypertension is often called the "silent killer" because most people who have it do not feel sick, but if left uncontrolled, it can lead to a heart attack or kidney disease. This is why it is so important to treat hypertension even if you feel fine. Many people can keep their hypertension under control by making some changes in their daily activities, such as increasing exercise and eating a healthier diet. Other people may need to take medicine in addition to diet and/or exercise.
How does one cope with Hypertension?
It is important that you become an active partner with your doctor in taking care of yourself. At first, as you adjust your daily habits to the treatment program advised to you, making these changes may seem difficult. After a while, these changes will become routine. So the sooner you begin to make these changes, the better.
Most treatments include a combination of diet, exercise and medication. Here are some important suggestions to consider.
 Lose weight
If you weigh too much, your heart may have to work harder to pump blood. Find out what your ideal weight range should be. This is important to know because as you gain weight, your blood pressure sometimes increases. Losing extra weight is often the best way to lower blood pressure.
If you are overweight, you may have to reduce the amount of food you eat. Once you lose weight, it is important to keep it off.
Medical care
Keep appointments with your doctor and have your blood pressure checked regularly. By doing so, you will know if your blood pressure is under control.
Tell your doctor about the progress you are making or any problems you are having. Further, be sure to ask any questions you may have concerning your diet, exercise, or medication..
Medication
 Most people with high blood pressure need to take medicine. If your doctor sees that diet and exercise are not enough to control your blood pressure, medication may be prescribed to you.
Take your medication as directed
Do not stop taking your medication unless your doctor tells you to
- You should know:
- When to take your medicine.
- How often to take your medicine.
- How much medicine to take .
- What side effects may occur .
- What should you do if you experience side effects.
- Do not be in a hurry to bring down your blood pressure. A slow and steady fall over two to four weeks is usual and is better than a sudden fall in blood pressure, which could damage your brain or heart.
- Do not be in a hurry to bring down your blood pressure. A slow and steady fall over two to four weeks is usual and is better than a sudden fall in blood pressure, which could damage your brain or heart.
Diet
It is best to limit or avoid certain foods to help control your blood pressure:
- Limit the amount of salt you eat
- Do not add salt to your food.
- Avoid foods high in salt.
- Read food labels to check the amount of sodium(salt) in prepared foods.
- Avoid eating foods high in fat like bacon, egg yolks
- Avoid cooking with excess butter
 Smoking / Alcohol
Cigarette smoking is damaging to the heart and blood vessels. If you stop smoking, this will help to lower your risk of a heart attack or stroke over time.
Alcohol can also raise your blood pressure. It is best to avoid or limit drinking.
Exercise
Exercise can help lower your blood pressure and reduce your weight. It will only help, however, if you exercise on a regular basis. Consult your doctor for an exercise plan that is right for you.
Family support
 Let your family know that you have high blood pressure. This is important because high blood pressure tends to run in the family. It is a good idea for other members of your family, age 20 and older, to get their blood pressure checked as well..
It is also good to let your family know that you have high blood pressure because:
- They can help you follow your doctor's advice
- They can remind you to take your medication
- Everyone can benefit from a low-fat, low-salt diet.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:
- To hold special Health Camps to detect Hypertension and Heart Disease.
- To arrange for further investigations and treatment especailly for the poor class of the society.
- To arrange follow up with doctors for patients who are classed as Hypertensive or are detected to have Heart Disease.
- In due course run a Mobile Van to carry out our project especailly in Rural Areas.
"Dr. Mahendra Narain Diabetes
Detection/Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Project"
INTRODUCTION
Diabetic retinopathy is emerging
as one of the important causes of blindness in both
developing and developed countries. The World Health
Organization (WHO) has estimated that the number of
adults with diabetes in the world will increase alarmingly
from 135 millions in 1995 to 3000 millions in 2025.In
India this increase is expected to be the greatest.
Nearly 195% from 18 millions in 1995 to 54 million in
2025.
What is diabetic Retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a disease
that causes damage to the blood vessels in the retina
of the eye. Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of
diabetes and a leading cause of blindness. It occurs
when diabetes damages the tiny blood vessels inside
the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of
the eye. With time, diabetic retinopathy can get worse
and cause vision loss and usually affects both eyes.
It is the leading cause of visual impairment or blindness
in posterior segment of eye. Diabetic retinopathy is
the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults
ages 20 to 74, according to the American Diabetes Association.
Who is at risk from diabetic retinopathy?
All people with diabetes, both type
1 and types 2 are at risk. Between the two types of
diabetes, the type II (non-insulin dependent) diabetes
is more common in India. With the increasing morbidity
and greater longevity of diabetic patient, diabetic
retinopathy is on the rise too.
As the retinopathy occurs in early
adults, the man-day loss and economic impact is significant.
To meet this challenging health and economic burden
on the society, Vidyawati Eye Trust (VET) has embarked
on a screening, epidemiological and research project.
It is a community outreach program covering urban and
rural population of Patna District in Bihar.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE
PROJECT
Diabetic retinopathy is most treatable
when diagnosed early. However, patients with the disorder
often do not experience symptoms until it has progressed
to the proliferative (advanced) stage. For this reason,
it is crucial that patients with diabetes schedule regular
eye exams so that an ophthalmologist can detect, diagnose,
treat the disorder before it affects vision and help
prevent it’s progression. Even with treatment,
retinopathy may continue to worsen. That is why everyone
with diabetes should get a comprehensive dilated eye
exam at least once a year.
Hence, the main aims and objectives
of our project is:
- To above all create awareness in the general population
on diabetes & diabetic retinopathy
- Screen at least 10000 people every year for diabetes
and diabetic retinopathy
- To emphasize the importance of maintaining a Diabetic-Register
by all concerned in the management of diabetes such
as the government hospitals, diabetologists, physicians,
paediatricians, ophthalmologist & pathologists
- To prepare a computerized data bank of the entire
diabetic population. By collecting data from the various
Diabetic-Registers
- Train general physician and general ophthalmologist
to detect early diabetic retinopathy changes
- To train ophthalmologist in FA and laser photocoagulation
- To help create a model for diabetic retinopathy
screening and treatment in state of Bihar
- To estimate the prevalence of diabetes and diabetic
retinopathy
- Help to develop interventional strategies to prevent
the complication related to diabetes
- To prepare the awareness material on diabetes and
DR Hindi & English (posters, flyers, films) and
- To train ophthalmic assistant and optometrist in
reading digital fundus photographs of the diabetic
& DR patients.
Who will be undertaking this project?
VIDYAWATI EYE TRUST
Ours is a Non Governmental Organisation
(NGO) engaged in eye health care in the state of Bihar.
Bihar is one of the most populous & backward state
of India and has one of the poorest health care infrastructures
with no international or national surveys conducted
as a result of the poor infrastructure, apathy of the
government departments and poor law and order situation
in the state.
Bihar has a estimated population of
102,061,925 (yr 2000). Total no of cataract surgery
done in the state during 2001-2002 was 72,080 and the
Cataract surgical rate (CSR) was 87 as opposed to that
of Tamilnadu which had the highest CSR of 596 (as per
the report published by National programme of Control
of blindness and Vision 20/20: The Right for SIGHT.NPCB
– INDIA). Hence, NGO like ours has a very important
role to play.
Vidyawati Eye Trust is managed by an
ophthalmologist and aims at eradicating the preventable
blindness mainly among the economically weaker sections
and senior citizens of the society. The main task is
to screen and detect eye defects such as cataract, glaucoma,
pterygium, dacryocystitis, corneal ulcers and retina
detachment and to offer surgery or appropriate treatment
to patients to correct the defect.
VET is one of the largest Eye-care
NGO in the state of Bihar and the only one managed by
an Ophthalmologist. Beginning as a 6 bed, three room
eye hospital it has, now grown into a 30 bed community
hospital with well equipped Out-Patient Department,
Modern Operation Theatre with three operating microscope,
motorized operating table & a vitrectomy machine.
Major activities undertaken:
- Mass screening and surgery - Every
year we conduct rural cataract screening camps where
at least 5,000 patients are screened for eye diseases
including cataract, glaucoma, trachoma, pterygium,
etc. With the help of an International NGO - Intervida
(Spain), in last four years VET has performed nearly
6,000 cataract surgeries mostly with intra-ocular
lens implant. No other organization in this state
currently provides free cataract surgeries with lens
implantation.
- Pre and postoperative counseling
– Offered to All Patients.
- Transportation - All needy cataract
patients are provided transportation. They are brought
to the base hospital, operated upon and transported
back to their respective villages.
- Community awareness programmes
– We have undertaken various programmes on Glaucoma.
- School screening programme - We
are also conducting school screening programme and
have screened nearly 10,000 children for refractive
error, vitamin-A deficiency and squint.
- Liaising – We meet various
govt. officials and participate in various national
programmes for prevention of blindness by govt.
- Training - We are the only NGO
providing training to Ophthalmologist in ECCE/ IOL,
SICS & Phacoemulsification. Ophthalmologist from
neighboring states of West Bengal, Orissa & Jharkhand
come to get trained at the base hospital.
- Research and Planning –
Develop, design and launch new community based projects
and programmes e.g. vet has organized several glaucoma
awareness and screening programmes each year, with
the aim to eradicate preventable blindness.
- Fund raising – We can let
you know various ways you can contribute.
Donations
Vidyawati Eye Trust is a registered
NGO and also has an FCRA (foreign) registration from
the Department of Home. Every year we submit our audited
account to the central government.
Some of our funding and supporting
members are Intervida-Spain, Anand club of Surrey, U.K.,
State Bank of India local head office, Red Cross Patna
branch and Mahila Samiti S.B.I. Patna. We have very
kindly been donated an A-SCAN and an Auto-refractor
for out post-operative refraction work. The trust also
has an ambulance donated by the Red Cross, Patna wing.
Due to our registration under 80G,
every donation to VET is eligible for a 50% tax relief.
Also because of FCRA registration, funds from outside
India can be transferred to our FCRA account without
Reserve Bank’s permission.
We would be obliged and grateful if you also could be
a part of our new endeavor called “Dr
Mahendra Narain Diabetes Detection/Diabetic Retinopathy
Screening Project” by supporting
it through your kind contributions and donations. Kindly
do not hesitate to contact us regarding any queries
or a detailed project report for the same. |
