Heart attack cases on rise in Patna

PATNA: The number of brain haemorrhage and heart attack cases has shot up from 50% to 70% in the daily average of emergency patients reaching different government hospitals as chilling cold weather condition has been prevailing in the the state capital for over a week.
“Seven out of ten patients reaching our trauma and emergency centres are of brain haemorrhage or stroke (cardiovascular accident) and heart attack (myocardial infarction),” IGIMS medical superintendent Dr Manish Mandal said.
What concerns more is the fact that young persons between 30 and 50 years of age were among the patients of brain haemorrhage, he said. These conditions caused by exposure to severe cold weather demanded medical emergency and doctors and paramedical staff of the IGIMS were busy round the clock in their treatment. Severe respiratory problems, high fever and cold diarrhoea are the other health problems being witnessed in the hospital for over a week, added Dr Mandal.
The chief casualty medical officer of PMCH, Dr Abhijit Singh, also admitted similar rise in cold-related problems. “Seven to eight patients of brain haemorrhage and heart attack were reaching the emergency every day and most of them were immediately shifted to emergency ICU for regular monitoring. In addition, the constriction of coronary arteries also caused sudden changes in blood pressure, necessitating immediate medical interference, he said.
The PMCH was also getting a large number of fever and diarrhoea patients, mostly caused by drop in the temperature, added Dr Abhijit.
Almost similar cases were being reported from Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH). Its deputy superintendent Dr Satish Kumar said brain haemorrhage or stroke was the most common serious health problem in such low temperatures. “Constriction of arteries leading to shooting up of blood pressure, few cases of hypothermia (severe cold attack) and heart attacks are among the common problems being seen these days in the hospital. Vital diarrhoea, winter bronchitis and few cases of frost bite (blisters in exposed parts like hands) are the other symptoms in this low weather condition, Dr Satish said.
Brain haemorrhage, besides bronchial asthma, diarrhoea and vomiting cases were also reaching in large numbers at AIIMS-Patna, said head of its trauma and emergency department, Dr Anil Kumar. In addition, victims of road accidents mainly due to poor visibility were also among those indirectly under impact of the cold weather. Brain haemorrhage is a life threatening medical condition in severe winter days and people of all ages were advised to restrain themselves from exposure by properly covering the body with warm clothes, added Dr Anil.