Dr. Chandra Kumar Das, Consultant Cardiologist, Hayat and Swagat Hospital and Dr Rupam Choudhury, Consultant Diabetologist, Sun Valley Hospital, Apollo Clinic during the webinar on “Stress Management of Patients of Non-Communicable Disease and Taking Care of Heart Patients during Corona Pandemic’ on September 4. (Morung Photo/Screenshot)
PIB Guwahati organises webinar on “Stress Management of Patients of Non-Communicable Disease and Taking Care of Heart Patients during Corona Pandemic’
Morung Express News
Dimapur | September 4
COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdown measures may increase anxiety and stress among many sections of the population but focusing on things one can control instead of panicking are keys to manage these health concerns.
Two experts on non-communicable and cardiovascular disease underscored the need to adopt these ‘controllable’ attributes during webinar titled, “Stress Management of Patients of Non-Communicable Disease and Taking Care of Heart Patients during Corona Pandemic” organised by Press Information Bureau (PIB), Guwahati today.
Attendees of the webinar included the Regional Outreach Bureau (ROB) and PIB in the North East Zone as well as media persons from the region.
Besides delineating the theme, the experts further recommended ‘controllable’ measures one can take to managing stress and anxiety during the pandemic.
The level of anxiety and stress in the lives of people has increased during the ongoing pandemic due to a number of reasons like social isolation, financial problems, altered sleep cycles, fear of contracting the disease or fear for the health of loved ones, opined Dr Rupam Choudhury, Consultant Diabetologist, Sun Valley Hospital, Apollo Clinic.
Among others, it is leading to bad mental state, neglect of health routine, substance abuse and increase in stress generating hormones. In relation to diabetes, these factors have adverse impact, he said.
This results in fall of immunity levels of all individuals and worsens health conditions of people who have pre-existing health issues, he added. Dr Choudhury, however, had some pointed recommendations to control these factors. Stay informed but don’t excessively consume news from all platforms, he advised.
“Search for solution and plan action,” which among others includes focusing on things one can control, instead of panicking.
These controllable actions include – following health protocols like social distancing, wearing mask, hand washing and minimising visits to crowded places, he emphasised.
Staying connected with family and friends without being physical in the time of social distancing is also a proven positive step, he added. Concurring with Dr Choudhury, the other expert of the day, Dr. Chandra Kumar Das, Consultant Cardiologist, Hayat and Swagat Hospital added that a lot of mortality due to COVID-19 is due to pre-existing heart conditions, aggravated by anger and frustration that has increased during the pandemic.
Anxiety and stress are causing drastic fall in immunity levels and is causing aggravation of heart diseases, he added.
Take care of your body and spirit, he said, which included not panicking or resorting to self medication.
Many ‘corona cure’ medicine and other methods are being vaunted but don’t consume drugs unless it is approved by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) or recommended by health practitioners, Dr Das cautioned.
Helping others without a hidden agenda also secretes hormones that reduce anxiety, he said. Moderate and regular exercise as well as proper eating habit also in controlling cardiovascular issues, he added.
Both experts recommended regular exercises including yoga; proper awareness of safety measures; and positive thoughts and remaining connected with family and friends while maintaining social distancing norms as the keys to managing stress and anxiety.
Earlier, setting the tone for the session, the Additional Director General, North East Zone, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, SN Pradhan noted that due to the lockdown and subsequent restrictions on movement of people, lifestyle of people has undergone a drastic change and has had different effects on different individuals.
While the Government of India has been using social media proactively to give various protocols and advice on management of health in these times, he urged the media to take these messages in a much more sustained manner in order to be effective and impactful.
The media would do the society great service by adopting these steps, Pradhan added.
Abhishek Dayal, Director, PIB Imphal said that PIB Guwahati has been organizing a series of webinars on different issues since the outbreak of the current pandemic with one clear aim in mind: to bring the experts, officials and media on one platform on various critical issues.
While these measures recommended seem simple, following them diligently the only proven way for effective safeguard, he said, further requesting the attendees, especially the media to disseminate those in a sustained manner.
