The other day I attended a lecture on ‘Life style and heart diseases’ at India Club, Guwahati where cardiologist Dr Amrit Kr Barooah dwelt on the various factors contributing to the alarming rise in heart diseases among Indians. Various factors including food habits, stress and strain, lack of adequate exercise, the intense rat race (competition) among all for survival were elaborately explained by Dr Barooah to all before beginning the interactive session where anxious club members threw different questions which were again discussed to the satisfaction of all.

The functioning of the heart was also elaborately explained — how the heart pumps oxygenated blood and how the deoxygenated blood comes back to the heart again to be pumped back with oxygen for the whole body — besides the reasons for blockage of arteries, partial blockage that causes angina, chest pain, and how total blockage of an artery could damage a portion of the heart, among others. The importance of balanced diet and low cholesterol foods was also emphasized to keep the heart and body healthy.

The lower incidence of heart diseases among the Chinese, compared to the Indians, was also analysed and the cycling indulged in by majority of Chinese was described as a healthy option to keep the heart free from ailments. Dr Barooah also dwelt about good and bad cholesterol saying that the fatty foods the Indians consume contributed towards thickening of the blood vessel walls leading to heart diseases. How true he was. Any imbalance in the intake into our system make the consequent functioning of the whole system erroneous leading to disease and death. The cardiovascular diseases — involving the heart, the brain, the kidneys — were also touched upon by Dr Barooah. He said the problem of diabetes affects the cardiovascular system as a whole leading to serious disorders. He added diabetes is just the tip of the iceberg while the consequences of it are massive like the whole underwater ice.

While coming from the session, another huge global problem that is threatening to destroy the earth — global warming — kept coming to my mind and I just compared the two problems, that of cardiovascular diseases and global warming. There has been unprecedented concern worldwide and the UN agencies are now spending massive amounts towards campaigning about an impending catastrophe due to global warming so that no further damage is done to the earth. Various programmes have been scheduled to create awareness among the masses and only God knows whether the amounts are being utilized properly or not. The Antarctica is said to be melting quite rapidly thereby raising the level of oceans, many areas are feared to be devoured by oceans in the not so distant future.

While immersing myself in all these thoughts what struck me was how things have come to such a pass that the world itself is on the verge of destruction. But those for whom we are facing such a catastrophe are very much indifferent and enjoying life as if nothing is happening around them. Yes, since long scientists have been warning about the depletion of the ozone layer due to massive use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) which are extensively used in airconditioners, refrigerators and the things that are luxuries of the rich. Isn’t it ridiculous that the whole world is facing the brunt due to the over-indulgence in luxurious activities by the elites. Moreover, the large-scale deforestation of the green resources has been playing havoc everywhere and contributing towards global warming too.

And it’s also ironic that depletion of these precious flora has been contributing to the standard of living of a section of people. But the whole world is on the verge of doom due to these exploitations. In fact, the system of the earth has been harshly interrupted in the form of greenhouse gases, deforestation, nuclear weapons testing, etc, and thus the ‘heart, brain and kidneys’ of the planet have also been adversely affected like that of a human being whose unhealthy but luxurious lifestyle contribute towards such diseases leading to death.

The only solution for the survival of the earth for a longer period of time now lies in understanding the problem from the scientific point of view, and an eagerness among all to forgo some of the avoidable luxuries like keeping the ACs off unless utterly needed, both at home and in vehicles.

The bottomline is that the indifference of the people, who have learnt to live in artificial luxury, must turn into concern for their future generations if not for the future of whole mankind. And that’s the only way left to prolong the life of this earth, rather the life of human beings and other life forms on earth.

Simanta Bhagawati