20 December, 2016

Survey: 50% doctors at risk of cardiovascular diseases

A study covering 250 doctors and nurses in a medical college hospital close to Chennai found that around 50% of the medical practitioners surveyed were at high risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) -close to double than that of the general population.

A team from the SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre calculated the risk based on the physical parameters of these white-coats, and after studying their dietary pattern and physical activity. Among doctors at high risk, 42.1% were predisposed to CVDs because of lack of physical activity, and 19.8% owing to erratic dietary pattern. While the average age of doctors was around 40, the nurses surveyed were around 29 years.

The study , published in the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, said one of the many reason for this unsettling trend was the sedentary lifestyle followed by doctors and long hours at work. "The high prevalence of obesity among doctors say a lot about our lifestyle," said Dr K Kannan, professor and head of the department of cardiology at Stanley Medical College and Hospital. He said when he entered the profession, it wasn't as competitive as it is now."Practice seems to be more number-driven now and it's taking a toll on doctors' health by keeping them awake longer," he said, adding, sometimes doctors end up working for up to 80 hours a week, including on their days off.

Diabetologist Vijay Viswanathan said a similar study done by his team 10 years ago, covering 3,000 doctors in Tamil Nadu, found high prevalence of diabetes among the group."Many of them were also at high risk for CVDs. Clearly little has changed since then," he said.

Doctors say erratic dietary and sleep patterns are mostly related to stress. A study recently published in the Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine found that four out of every 10 doctors in India suffer from moderate to severe stress levels. Around 21% doctors use alcohol, 18% anxiolytic or antidepressants and 14% smoke to cope with the stress.

Taking note of this uptick the IMA has directed all its district branches to set aside one day to screen their members.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

20.12.2016

To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong

Joseph Chilton Pearce