Says they are becoming chain smokers to ease tension
As uncertainty looms over the future of their children, inhabitants of border areas, who always remain gripped with tension, are became chainsmokers.
For the helpless border people, brisk smoking is the only means to ease their tension. Displacement after repeated intervals due to firing and shelling on the border is the main cause of their tension-gripped lives.
“The border belt in the Jammu region is gradually turning into a heart disease-prone zone,” observed Dr Sushil Sharma, head of the department of cardiology at the Government Medical College and Super-specialty Hospital in Jammu.
“Residents of this belt are becoming chain smokers due to the prevailing tension in their respective areas, which is the main cause of high blood pressure,” he said.
“Smoking is bad not only for the heart, but for other organs as well. Our aim is to educate people to give up smoking,” he said.
Dr Sharma and his team had so far conducted eight check-up and screening camps near the international border to reach out to the doorstep of inhabitants.
The record of hospitals is testimony to the fact that the number of patients suffering from heart diseases, especially in border areas, are increasing with every passing day.
“Keeping in view the socio-economic conditions of border inhabitants, we took the decision to hold check-up and screening camps near the border to examine patients at their doorstep,” he said.
He disclosed that during the camp, it was found that a large number of people were suffering from acute stress, which was the main cause of heart diseases.
“There is no official survey which authenticates that border belts are turning into heart disease-prone zones. One thing is clear that high blood pressure is widespread among border inhabitants,” said Dr Sharma.
“I know that people smoke to deal with stress. Those who smoke do not know that smoking causes high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, physical inactivity, obesity and diabetes,” he told border inhabitants. “These are major risk factors for coronary heart disease. Smoking takes you nearer the door of death. A smoker has little chance of surviving even a minor cardiac arrest,” he said.
