New Delhi. Fish oil pills, diet rich in omega–3 fatty acids, fish, canola oil, soybean oil, flaxseeds and walnuts all lower the blood pressure. This was stated by Dr KK Aggarwal, President Heart Care Foundation of India.

Quoting a study of middle-aged adults in China, Japan, Great Britain and the U.S. and published in the journal Hypertension, Dr Aggarwal said that there are heart benefits of omega–3 fatty acids. Oily fish, such as salmon, mackerel and sardines, contain two types of omega–3 fats –– DHA and EPA –– that have been shown to reduce blood fats called triglycerides and possibly prevent dangerous heart–rhythm disturbances.

American Heart Association recommends that adults eat fatty fish twice a week, and that people with heart disease consider taking fish oil pills to get extra DHA and EPA. Plant sources contain an omega–3 known as ALA, a precursor to DHA and EPA. The new study shows that both fish and vegetable sources of omega–3 do offer a modest blood pressure benefit.

In the study, blood pressure levels tended to dip as participants’ omega–3 intake climbed.

The benefit was most clear among people without high blood pressure and those who were not taking medication or following a special diet to control their elevated blood pressure.

The bottom line is eat omega–3 fats as part of an overall diet, limit salt, alcohol and saturated fat, get enough vegetable protein and nutrients such as potassium and calcium. With blood pressure, every millimeter counts. The effect of each nutrient is apparently small but independent, so together they can add up to a substantial impact on blood pressure.

New Delhi. Men have a greater chance of dying then women, and smoking increases any adult's risk of death just as if five years were suddenly added to their age said KK Aggarwal, President Heart Care Foundation of India.

People with diabetes who smoke are more than twice as likely to have an episode of severe hypoglycemia, or very low blood sugar, as those who have never smoked, Loss of sugar can cause mental confusion, or even coma or seizures in severe instances. Smoking, through its effect on hormone regulation and insulin clearance, has been hypothesized to result in severe hypoglycemia.

Quoting a study published in the journal Diabetes Care, Dr. Aggarwal said that after taking account of other factors, smoking conferred a 2.6-fold increased risk of having severe hypoglycemia.

Furthermore, smoking was associated with similarly increased odds of having diabetes-related nerve damage, impaired kidney function, and sight-threatening retinal defects.

New Delhi. Breathing in second-hand smoke has now been shown for the first time to raise the risk for Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia, said Dr KK Aggarwal, President Heart Care Foundation of India.

There have been studies that have shown that exposure to secondhand smoke is related to subclinical cardiovascular disease and clinical cardiovascular disease. There also have been studies showing that atherosclerosis, hardening of the arteries, is related to an increased risk of dementia.

A new study completes the loop by showing that inhaling someone else's smoke increases the incidence of dementia. Also there is an alternative pathway other than cardiovascular disease with potential neurotoxic effects. Secondhand smoke could affect the neurodegenerative process behind dementia and may lower the threshold for dementia-like symptoms.

A six-year evaluation revealed that elderly people exposed to high lifetime exposure to secondhand smoke for 30 years or more were about 30 percent more likely to develop dementia than those without such exposure. Analysis of the data showed that the combination of long-term exposure to secondhand smoke and the presence of cardiovascular disease nearly doubled the risk of dementia. Long-term exposure to secondhand smoke alone increased the risk of dementia by about a third.

The study also found a greater incidence of dementia in people who were not diagnosed with cardiovascular disease but who had detectable abnormalities of their carotid arteries, the main arteries to the brain, on ultrasound images. People exposed to secondhand smoke who had those abnormalities (such as narrowed carotid arteries) were 2.5 times more likely to develop dementia as those with no carotid abnormalities and no secondhand smoke exposure.

New Delhi. Heat stroke guidelines released Heart Care Foundation of India today released guidelines for heat stroke and common mistakes done either at the level of the patient or while managing the condition.

Releasing the guidelines, Dr KK Aggarwal, President Heart Care Foundation of India, said that there are two types of heat stroke. First, exertional heat stroke, which occurs in younger individuals who engage in strenuous physical activity for a prolonged period of time in hot environment. However, classical non–exertional heat stroke more commonly affects sedentary elderly individuals or persons who are chronically ill and/or younger children.

If not managed properly, hundreds of lives are lost in 72 hours post heat stroke. If therapy is delayed, the mortality is 80%. This figure can be reduced to 10%, if early and proper management is done and mistakes avoided.

Mistake No. 1

Missing Diagnosis: It is the rectal temperature, which is more important than axillary or oral temperature. The diagnosis of heat stroke may be missed if rectal temperature is not measured. Heat stroke is defined as when temperature exceeds 41°C (106 degree F) in absence of sweating and altered sensorium.

Heat stroke mistaken for heat exhaustion: The two conditions can be differentiated, as there is no sweating in heat stroke.

Continous lowering of temperature: The goal of treatment should be to reduce the temperature by atleast 0.20C/minute to approximately 390C (102 degree F)

Continuing active external cooling beyond 390C: The cooling should be halted at 39°C to prevent over shooting cut–off point leading to hypothermia.

Giving anti fever medicines: Anti fever medicines like paracetamol, aspirin and other non–steroidal anti–inflammatory agents have no role. They actually may be harmful if the patients have underlying liver, blood and kidney damage. They may also cause bleeding.

Not checking temperature continuously: One should ideally place a flexible indwelling thermistor rectally to monitor temperature continuously.

Not checking fever once temperature settles down: Thermal instability may persist for a few days after the onset of heat stroke. Therefore, temperature must be continuously monitored during this period.

Not removing restrictive clothing: All clothes should be removed so that temperature can be lowered by evaporation.

Giving phenytoin during seizure: Phenytoin is not effective in controlling seizures in heat stroke.

Giving chlorpromazine to lower temperature: It was the mainstay of therapy earlier but is now avoided as it increases chances of seizures.

Patients on anti cholinergic and anti histaminic drugs: In this season, self–treatment with anti allergic and anti nasal discharge drugs can be harmful. They lead to impaired heat loss and precipitate hypothermia.

Heart patients not taking precautions: In elderly heart patients, cardiovascular drugs like beta–blockers, calcium channel blockers and diuretics may interfere with cardiovascular response to heat, heat loss and precipitate hyperthermia.

Not realizing that the patient may be on substance abuse: Stimulant drugs, including cocaine and amphetamines can generate excessive amount of heat by increasing metabolism. They can worsen heat stroke.

Ignoring mild temperature: One should remember that a high temperature would be found only if mild temperature is ignored. During peak summer, sudden onset of fever should be taken as heat stroke, unless proved otherwise.

Not giving enough fluids: Remember the internal organs are on fire and the fires can only be extinguished with fluids. Such patients need liters of intravenous fluids to manage their internal fire.

Carrying out sponging only on the head: Patients require continuous sponging of the body with tap water and not restricting to armpits or the head. Some doctors even try to immerse the patient in water. Ice massage should be avoided as it does not lower the internal core temperature.

Better city, better life with Information and Communication Technology is the theme of this year’s celebration of World Telecommunications and Information Society Day (WTISD). This day marks the signing of the first International Convention and Foundation of International Telecommunication Union in 1865. World Telecommunication Day is being celebrated annually since 1969. Telecommunication services which because of technological evolution morphed into Telecommunication and Information Services prompted the Plenipotentiary Conference in Antalya to rechristen the World Telecommunication Day as World Telecommunication and Information Society Day.

Information services play a very important role in any civilized society. Knowledge and information are interchangeable and unlike any other resource, information is an inexhaustible one. As such the celebration of this day is very much relevant for the world community. Now a days, life without availability of information and communication services is unthinkable. One can perhaps live without food and water for a few days, but cannot think of remaining unconnected even for a single day. Around 5 billion mobile connections among 6.9 billion population of the World has made the entire world a small place leading to the possibility of permeating any piece of information from any corner of the world to any other corner in no time.

There is no doubt that globalization on the whole has made most people of the world better off. Besides Capitalism and opening up of markets, it is the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) which has made it possible to realize globalization in true sense and its benefits are being derived not only by individuals but also by individual countries. Over 60 billion Dollar market of Indian IT and IT enabled services is the most eye opening positive impact of globalization. The role of ICT is now being felt by each sector. It is not only limited to the fact that the ICT industries are contributing significantly in the global economy and every ten percentage increase in penetration in ICT services enhances a country’s economy by one percent, but the very existence of any economic activity without proper use of ICT is unimaginable. That is one reasons why a number of developed countries in the World have elevated the importance of ICT sector to a strategic position by giving it due importance from their national perspectives. Even the world leaders have recognised ICT as one of the most effective tools for eradication of poverty.

In the recent time, significant technological developments have taken place which has transformed the ICT environment. Deployment of common network infrastructures for providing multiple telecommunication services and applications leading to the convergence of technological platforms for telecommunications, information delivery, broadcasting and computing have had significant and far reaching implication on the ICT sector as a whole. Rapid development of wireless and next generation mobile communication, its convergence with both fixed telephony and broadcasting services along with continued expansion of the Internet and other IP based application has called for a fresh need to relook at the regulatory mechanisms. The deployment of broadband services has given rise to a number of policy and regulatory issues such as how best to enable required investment, whether regulation should be technology neutral for the technologies such as XDSL, FTTH, HSDPA, WiMAX etc. and/ or cable providers and / or for the services that are operated across a number of access technologies. Whether and /or how to apply universal access / service obligation in the converged environment is another moot question among the policy makers and regulators. In many remote and rural areas mobile broadband may be the only economically viable proposition for providing broadband services. The last World Telecommunication Policy Forum organised by International Telecommunication Union at Lisbon in 2009, generated six opinions on the issues - internet related public policy matters; the implications of the advent of next generation network and advanced broadband access; ICT and environment – particularly the role ICT can play in mitigating the impact of climate change; collaborative strategies for creating confidence and security in the use of ICTs; Capacity building in support of the adoption of IP v6; and International telecommunication regulations.

Over half of the population of the World lives in the city and city life has its own complications besides its numerous advantages. Information and Communication services (ICTs) provide solutions to many problems that a city faces, it can manage cities in many innovative ways. ICT enables the establishment of smart buildings, intelligent traffic management system, tele working, enhancing efficiencies in energy consumption and waste management and above all in making the city intelligent enough so that any mishappening can be pinpointed and immediate remedial action can be directed.

On the eve of World Telecommunications and Information Society Day, all the countries in the World must roll out the next generation network which is not only the most efficient and cost effective infrastructures to provide the entire spectrum of ICT services but has the potential to stimulate the global economy by providing accessibility to world class telecom services to all the people of the world. Accordingly Governments all across have to stimulate investment for the roll out of the next generation network and must foster an enabling, pro-competitive and transparent regulatory mechanism for the development of newer and more advanced services. Hundred million connections in India have been contributing enormously towards our economy. However its effective application and its usage needs to be achieved in order to improve the quality of life, i.e. Better city, Better life with ICT.

It was a revisit to India’s emerald islands in the east embellishing the Bay of Bengal. Reflections of life and times in Port Blair three decades ago flashed through the mind as Indian Airlines carrier touched down Veer Savarkar airport.

The images of the past and the realities of the present were quite striking. The transformation that the Andaman Islands have gone through was palpable during a recent week-long crisscross of the islands. From buildings to bridges, from roads to bye lanes, beaches to skyline, the canvas of this coral island portrayed a sea change.

For an island territory lying away from the mainland and spread North-South across the deep sea over a length of 800 kilometers, transport is the lifeline. Whereas initially there was only a once-a-week flight from Kolkatta, and later from Chennai, now there are daily flights from these two cities, even by private airlines. Additional services are also operated as and when necessary. Similarly, for inter-island transport, helicopter service has been introduced linking Diglipur, the farthest town of North Andamans to Campbell Bay located in the southernmost part, in Nicobar Group of Islands. Talking of sea cruise, both the mainland to island service and inter-island services have improved a lot. As far as surface transport is concerned, privatization has eased the problem to a great extent. The ubiquitous auto rickshaw has also reached the islands. Construction of Great Andaman Trunk-road (now National Highway 223) has certainly paved the way for improved infrastructure. However, the road building, which started in 1970s, had turned controversial as it cuts through the ‘reserved’ forest areas of the Jarawa tribe, a Paleolithic (Old Stone Age) group. The current plans to widen the road have further aggravated its impact on the habitat of the Jarawas.

The advent of cell phone has turned out to be a great boon to the nearly four lakh population in the islands. Not only one could converse with people in the mainland at the press of a button, but could also speak with the same ease and clarity to an acquaintance in the southernmost island of Great Nicobar, where the inter-island ferry takes two days to reach. Postal facilities have also markedly improved, the efficient speed post service scored where a private courier service failed to reach the remote Baratang.

With silver sands, lagoons and enchanting seamless greenery, Andamans had always been a destination worth visiting. Tourism is the bread butter of the people of these exquisite islands. Unlike the vignettes of Port Blair more than a quarter century ago, one can today find many eateries and lodges that suit one’s taste buds as well as budget.

Over the years, new places have been thrown open to the tourists, like the Ross Island where the settlement’s headquarters was first established, the Viper Island where penal settlement was first established, and Chatham Island where Asia’s first and biggest saw mill was established and is still functioning. New museums like the Samudrika marine museum, forest museum and aquarium boast of rare collection of flora and fauna of Andamans. The Anthropological Museum is worth a visit, what with Old Stone Age Jarawa and Sentinel tribes still surviving in the islands against all odds.

Snorkeling and cruising in glass-bottomed boats and scuba diving for the trained and experienced are the new attractions. Watching lakhs of jelly fish gently float by in the waters of Mahatma Gandhi National Marine Park was like watching Discovery Channel live. Near Baratang, the Parrot Island, mud volcano, limestone cave and mangrove canopy walk are the added attractions for tourists who love to be with Nature.

At the same time, responsible tourism that protects and conserves nature is also strictly followed. Tourists are not allowed to pick and bring back prohibited sea shells and corals.

A lot of renovation and beautification works have been done in and around the cellular Jail, now a National Memorial in honour of our freedom fighters who languished under colonial oppression since 1857. A museum has been created depicting the history of penal settlement and the sacrifices made by our freedom fighters so that we could be free. Watching the sound and light show in the premises of the Cellular Jail that chronicles the courage and sacrifice of our freedom fighters was a time worth spent.

Cut off from the hustles and bustles of mainland, the social life on the island, lacks luster. However, it is made up by satellite and Cable TV and DVDs, that throw open the whole world at the flick of the remote. Take a stroll through the National Highway 223 - the memories etched thirty years ago get overlapped by the transformation over the years. The look of the bazaars has changed. From what used to be a lazy marketplace that got to life only when ships from the mainland arrived, is now bustling with regular shops that include gold jewellery marts and mini supermarkets stocking almost everything and anything. Local handicrafts sector has improved vastly. LPG cooking gas has reached the islands and so has milk, where milk powder was the only source for milk then, Local production of fruits and vegetables has seen a marked improvement yet, much of the demand is still being met from the mainland and hence a bit costlier.

Despite a manifold increase in power consumption, diesel generators are still the only source of power supply. Other sources of energy like gobar/bio gas, solar, wave, and wind can be tried in a big way. Similarly, there seemed to be a perennial shortage of water despite rains for more than six months a year. Saline water treatment plant could be established and water harvesting, even in small quantities, should be encouraged.

Though life in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands has improved a lot in general, development is always at the cost of Nature. We have to tread very carefully, at least as far as the tribes are concerned.

New Delhi. Shri Murli Deora, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas along with Shri S.Sundareshan, Secretary Petroleum; Indian Ambassador to Venezuela Mr Lal Dingliana, Chairman Indian Oil Corporation Limited; Chairman, Oil India Limited; Managing Director, ONGC Videsh Limited and other senior officials from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas participated in the signing ceremony presided by the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Mr. Hugo Chavez Frias for signing a joint venture agreement with the Corporación Venezolana del Petróleo S.A. (CVP) for the development and production from Carabobo-1 Project, in Orinoco Region of Venezuela. The signing took place in Caracas, the capital city of Venezuela, late yesterday night (India time). The new joint venture is PetroCarabobo S.A. Alongwith OVL, IOC and OIL, the other two partners of the consortium i.e,Spanish Major Repsol and Malaysian Petronas also signed the joint venture agreement.

The consortium of ONGC Videsh Limited (“OVL”, 11.0%), Indian Oil Corporation Limited (“IOC”, 3.5%), Oil India Limited (“OIL”, 3.5%), Repsol YPF (“Repsol”, 11.0%) and Petroliam Nasional Berhad (“PETRONAS”, 11.0%), (collectively, the “Consortium”), was selected by the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on 10th February 2010 for awarding a 40% ownership interest in an “Empresa Mixta” (or “Mixed Company") which will develop the Carabobo 1 Norte and Carabobo 1 Centro blocks located in the Orinoco Heavy Oil Belt. The Corporación Venezolana del Petróleo (“CVP”), a subsidiary of Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (“PDVSA”), Venezuela's state oil company, will hold the remaining 60% equity interest.

The Mixed Company will build heavy oil production facilities, upgrading facilities and associated infrastructure. The upstream production facilities are expected to produce around 400,000 barrels per day of extra heavy oil of which approximately 200,000 barrels per day will be upgraded into light crude oil in a facility to be located in the Soledad area, Anzoátegui State. The license term will be for 25 years with the potential for a further 15 year extension. The project costs are estimated at US$ 15 – 20 Billion dollars and is one of India’s major investments in the Latin American oil major.

After the conclusion of the signing ceremony, Shri Murli Deora, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas had a warm and cordial meeting with the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Mr. Hugo Chavez Frias. In the meeting, the possibility of sourcing Venezuelan Crude to meet the requirements of new refinery capacities coming up in India was discussed. Discussions were also held on the possibility of award of Junin Norte block, where new oil reserves are being certified by ONGC Videsh Limited. Venezuelan side was receptive to these and expressed interest in establishment of refineries in India / Venezuela with involvement / assistance from Indian oil sector companies. The Venezuelan side expressed intention of furthering cooperation with India and a desire to develop a special relationship with India.

The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has given high priority to increase production of extra-heavy crude oil from the Orinoco Oil Belt for the purpose of promoting national development. The Government offered seven blocks in the Carabobo area, with combined oil in place estimated at around 128 billion barrels. The blocks were grouped into three projects with each project expected to produce a plateau of 400,000 barrels of 8° API oil per day for 40 years.

The Carabobo area, located in the eastern section of the Faja, has a massive resource potential and is part of an extensive reserve certification process led by PDVSA. The US Geological Survey, in a recent report has estimated mean volume of recoverable heavy oil in the Faja to be as high as 513 billion barrels which is one of the few global opportunities open to private investment.

New Delhi. New Delhi. Quoting a British study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology Dr KK Aggarwal President Heart Care Foundation of India, said that those who get regular vigorous exercise are less likely to develop depression or an anxiety disorder over time. In general, men who reported regular vigorous exercise -- such as running or playing soccer -- were about one-quarter less likely than their less active peers to develop depression or anxiety over the next 5 years.

Even Small Amounts of Exercise Are Beneficial.

In a study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, by Dr Timothy Church of Louisiana State University System it has been shown that even small amounts of physical activity--approximately 75 minutes a week--can improve cardio respiratory fitness levels of sedentary overweight individuals. Commenting on the study Dr K K Aggarwal said that while this level of exercise is lower than that currently recommended to produce weight loss, the current findings may be used to encourage those people who don’t exercise at present to start some form of physical activity.

Improvements in fitness are associated with a reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease and death.

National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Panel recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most days of the week, the reports suggest that 60 minutes of exercise each day may be necessary to prevent weight gain.

New Delhi. People with a fasting blood sugar level of 100–125 mg/dl had an adjusted nearly 300% increase higher risk of having coronary heart disease than people with a level below 79 mg/dl, said  Dr KK Aggarwal, President Heart Care Foundation of India.

A fasting blood sugar level of more than 125 mg/dl is the current threshold for identifying patients with diabetes. But, a cross–sectional study of nearly 2500 people suggests that patients with high levels of blood sugar in the nondiabetic range face a substantial risk of coronary heart disease.

The Cleveland Clinic Foundation now uses a fasting blood sugar of 90 mg/dl or higher as a biomarker of coronary heart disease risk. These patients need intervention with exercise, diet and weight control. The previous cutoff of 125 mg/dl was based on the incidence of diabetic retinopathy, but physicians now increasingly focus on the diabetes–related risk of coronary heart disease. As evidence continues to grow in this area it is likely that the definition of diabetes will change. Heart Care Foundation of India recommends keeping fasting blood sugar below 80 mg%.