The pandemic witnessed a steep drop in the number of cardiology assessments, according to the recently-published results of a survey. Of particular concern throughout the COVID-19 has been the disruption to routine health services, ranging from routine immunisation to screening for and treatment of other diseases. In the case of cardiology, the International Atomic Energy […]
heart condition
Heart health and COVID-19
Heart health is a matter of mounting public concern – including in India. The country’s escalating heart health crisis has, for some time, been an issue that is imperative for the health system to address. However, this may not be the case. In 2016, heart disease acted as the country’s leading cause of death. Heart […]
Critical COVID-19: Bad news for heart health
Critical cases of COVID-19, warranting admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), could pose a danger to heart health. Patients admitted to the ICU with COVID-19 – the disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) or, simply, the coronavirus – are ten times more likely to develop heart health complications such as […]
Cardiology: Controversy following MCI decision
The Medical Council of India (MCI), in a controversial decision, will not recognise cardiologists with a postgraduate diploma from the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). The move has sparked fears by commentators that the already deficient workforce of cardiologists in India – a country where heart disease is the leading cause of death – […]
Heart failure and diabetes: Research suggests a link
Individuals with diabetes have an elevated risk of heart failure, new research indicates. An association between heart disease and diabetes is understood. New findings published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings suggests diabetes to be an indicator of heart failure in its own right. The research analysed the long-term impact of diabetes on developing heart failure, surveying […]
Misdiagnosed blood pressure: 42 percent at risk
As many as 42 percent of Indians could be at risk of having their blood pressure misdiagnosed, suggests research published earlier this week. The Indian Heart Study, which researchers promoted in Mumbai, found there to be a relatively high prevalence of both ‘masked hypertension’ and ‘white-coat hypertension’ in a study of 19,000 people. White-coat hypertension, […]
Battery drainage leading to a potential pacemaker crisis?
Indians are being warned their pacemakers could be a risk to their health by the country’s apex medical regulator because of battery drainage concerns. The Central Drugs Standards and Control Organisation (CDSCO) has issued a warning to consumers that a number of pacemakers manufactured by US firm Medtronic could be faulty. The CDSCO joins other […]
Screening for congenital disorders at Chennai hospital
This article was originally published on The News Minute and has been republished with permission. By Nimeshika Jayachandran The doctors at Chennai’s Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children in Egmore will soon be implementing mandatory screening for congenital hypothyroidism and adrenal hyperplasia. “A nationwide study which was conducted by the Indian Council of […]
Ectopia cordis: born with a heart outside of the body
A newborn has reportedly been born with her heart located outside of her body in Madhya Pradesh. The Business Standard reports the abnormal birth to have occurred on April 5th. Though it sounds alarming, it is in fact a documented condition: ectopia cordis. Ectopia cordis is defined as the improper formation of the chest cavity, as […]