Ludhiana, September 22
In order to keep heart diseases at bay, one ought to give proper attention to lifestyle and diet so as to lead a healthy life. This advice was given to industrial workers by Dr S.Kumbkarni, consultant cardiologist, while delivering a lecture on the “Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases” at Hero Cycles (CR division), here yesterday. The lecture was organised by J.S. Butran, vice-president (HR), of the industrial unit.

Dr Kumbkarni said, “Coronary artery disease (CAD) had emerged as the most common cause of death globally, accounting for nearly 12 million deaths every year. In India, about 30 per cent of unnatural deaths are due to cardiac or related problems.”

“Besides ones genetic make-up, the factors which make one prone to CAD are smoking, hypertension, obesity and diabetes. In addition to heart disease, it also causes diseases like cancer of the throat and brain stroke," the heart specialist said.

Focusing on hypertension (high blood pressure), he said, “It is a silent killer. Patients who are either hypertensive or diabetic, have greater chances of developing undetected and serious medical complications.”

“Positive stress adds anticipation and excitement to life, and we all thrive under a certain amount of stress. Our goal is not to eliminate stress but to learn how to manage it and how to use it to help us”, he added.

He said a good diet not only gives us a healthy body but also contributes to a healthy mind. One should choose to always eat in moderation, and go for variety over volume. Further, limit the salt, or choose low salt. Not only can proper diet help slow the artery-clogging process, but when combined with careful lifestyle modification, it may even stop or reverse the narrowing of arteries, Dr Kumbkarni said. 

Ludhiana, September 22
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has exhorted cancer surgeons to develop specialised diagnostic mechanism for early detection of cancer to save the lives of patients.

He was addressing the inaugural session of a three-day national conference of the Indian Association of Surgical Oncology (IASO) NATCON-IASO-2007 on “Multidisciplinary approach in onco-surgery” organised by Mohan Dai Oswal Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation at Punjab Agricultural University last evening.

Eminent cancer surgeons from Japan, the US, the UK and India are participating.

Emphasising the need for a specialised hospital equipped with latest diagnostic technology for cancer, he said the number of patients had been on the rise within Punjab and Malwa belt was among the worst hit areas.

He said cancer patients from the belt had to go a long way to Bikaner for treatment, as the facilities in the state were inadequate.

Expressing concern over the plight of poor patients suffering from the disease, he said medical associations and institutions should launch comprehensive awareness drives to educate people regarding preventive measures.

He said the use of tobacco, “gutka” and other intoxicants was the major cause of the spread of cancer among the users and awareness needed to be generated against intoxicant abuse.

The Chief Minister said the government had planned a comprehensive programme to provide quality health services to people in the state in general and rural sector in particular by strengthening the health services infrastructure.

Admitting the fact that state was lagging behind in health services, Badal added sincere efforts had not been made by the previous government to strengthen health facilities.

He said the government had undertaken a programme to link its district hospitals with government medical college and hospitals through tele-medicines.

He said the facility would be extended to get opinion of expert doctors from institutes like the PGI and AIIMS.

He added that the government was committed to providing modern equipment to various hospitals along with upgrading the existing infrastructure.

“The concept of mobile dispensaries would be introduced to provide health facilities on the doorstep of poor people in the remote areas,” he said.

Effective planning and its implementation could be possible if a statewide data was complied. “I have directed the Punjab Planning Department to compile required blockwise data in a time-bound manner to enable the state government to take necessary steps,” he said. He later announced a grant of Rs 5 lakh for the Association for Cancer Research and released a souvenir and a directory of the IASO.

Ludhiana, September 22
The Ludhiana District Cricket Association (LDCA) will conduct trials to select women cricketers (u-19) at Khalsa College for Women ground, Civil Lines, tomorrow at 10 am.

LDCA honorary secretary Vinod Chitkara said the selected players would represent Ludhiana in the forthcoming Punjab State-Inter District Women’s Cricket Championship scheduled to start at different venues from October 1.

The panel includes selection committee (seniors), Punjab, chairman Chaman Lal Malhotra. Besides, former Punjab players Anuradha and Aman will supervise aspirants before finalising the team for the upcoming tournament.

Ludhiana, September 22
Fourteen teams have confirmed their participation for the second edition of the Ludhiana District Twenty20 Cricket Tournament scheduled to be held at the Government Institution of Textiles and Knitting, Rishi Nagar, from tomorrow.

Des Raj, cricket coach, Ludhiana, and honorary secretary, Ludhiana District Twenty20 Cricket Association, the tournament will be conducted on knockout basis and matches will be played on Saturdays and Sundays.

Chandigarh, September 22
Eight-year-old Kevin Wong of St John’s, Sector 26, outclassed Sanchit Gupta in the boys (U-10) quarterfinal 17-21, 21-12, 21-13 and went on his way to the semi-finals of 19th Yonex Chandigarh State Open Badminton Championship being held at the Sector 42 Badminton Hall here.

Manju and Navita would meet in the finals of women’s singles. Both recorded straight wins over their respective rivals in the semi-final contests. Hitting and placing shots, Manju ousted Seema by 21-7, 21-14, while Navita was given a tough fight by Purnica before the former won by 21-13, 21-12. Purnima defeated Ishmehar 21-6, 21-4 and Arshia bt Hasrat 21-6, 21-8 in the girls U-10 singles semi-final.

The results: U-10 girls’ singles (SF): Purnima bt Ishmehar 21-6, 21-4, Arshia bt Hasrat 21-6, 21-8.

U-13 girls singles: Daman bt Ritika 21-9, 21-11.

U-16 girls singles: Nisha bt Navika 21-15, 21-10.

U-16 girls doubles: Japneet and Diksha bt Navika and Deepti 21-12, 22-20.

U-19 girls singles: Purnima bt Tanupriya 21-12, 21-10.

Women’s singles (semi-finals): Manju bt Seema 21-7, 21-14, Navita bt Purnica 21-13, 21-12.

U-10 boys’ singles: Saurav bt Manan Bhatia 21-14, 18-21, 21-16, Tushar bt Gurpreet 21-14, 21-14.

QF: Kevin Wong bt Sanchit Gupta 17-21, 21-18, 21-13.

U-13 boys singles: Ankit bt Robin 21-4, 21-6, Purlov bt Atul 21-18, 19-21, 21-18, Nikhlesh bt Justin 21-19, 21-18, Arjun bt Gurvinder 16-21, 21-18, 21-10, Ajay bt Anupam 16-21, 21-17, 21-15.

U-13 boys’ doubles: Arjun and Ankit bt Ashit and Inderpreet 21-9, 21-8, Rajan and Nikhil bt Shaurya and Kevin 21-9, 21-5.

U-16 boys’ singles: Nishant bt Rupam 21-5, 21-4, Sameer bt Ishpreet 21-7, 21-10, Kanwar Cheema bt Prateek 21-5, 21-14.

U-19 boys’ singles: Aman Sethi bt Adarsh 21-14, 21-19, Abhinav bt Kantany 21-13, 21-7.

Men’s doubles: Tejinder and Vikas Mahajan bt Navjot and Yogesh 21-7, 21-9, Amit and Robin bt Manu and Arun 21-9, 21-9, Akash and Vikas Kundu bt Neeraj and Vikas 21-13, 21-17.

Men’s singles (QF): Pankaj bt Sunil 21-11, 21-13, Ashish bt Tushar 21-8, 18-21, 21-14.