 Dr S Thanikachalam, Vice-Chancellor,
Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute (deemed university) has suggested periodic tests with the relatively new equipment of CV Profilor at his hospital which could help identify early symptoms of heart attack and help take preventive steps.
The cardio-vascular disease could be reduced by as much as 40 per cent based on this method, he said, quoting Dr N Cohn, Professor of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School.
Dr Thanikachalam pointed out that cardio-vascular disease, now placed at 10 per cent in the world, could go up to a minimum of 20 per cent by 2020. Unfortunately, most of the people to be affected were likely to be of Asian, including Indian, origin, he added.
There has been intense research in biology of blood vessels especially vessels that carry oxygenated blood from heart to various tissues of the body.
The purpose or main function of arterial blood vessel or arteries is to regulate blood flow into various tissues or cells according to the need at that time. For this, wall of the arteries should be supple enough to dilate the blood vessel fully or shrink to accommodate more blood or less depending on the need of the tissue, Thanikachalam said.
Less than 15 years ago, a different and very powerful mediator of blood vessel
relaxation, inhibitors of Platelet clumping and clot formation and preventor of White blood vessel wall was identified - that is Nitric Oxide, a gas witb one to one combination of the two main elements of the air, Nitrogen and Oxygen.
What secretes this NO? Blood vessels are more than passive pipes. The blood vessel artery has three layers -- Outer Layer, Middle Layer and Inner Layer.
The inner layer is formed by single layer of cells called Endothelium. These cells secrete substances called 'NO' (Nitric Oxide) which percolates into middle layers and gives signals to muscle present in this layer either to relax or constrict.
Healthy individuals produce 'NO' in the blood vessels. The healthier you are, the more 'NO' you make. You may wonder if 'NO' is so important and so protective, then why !s there so much of heart and vessel disease in this country.
Unfortunately, in the case of many, they are not producing enough 'NO' in their blood vessels: why not? Because many people have high level blood pressure or high level of blood cholesterol, sugar and nicotine (because of smoking), high emotional tension (secretes substance which constricts blood vessel).
These risk factors began a downhill course that leads to reduced vitality, less ability to exercise and eventually symptoms of heart disease or vessel disease. These people make less 'NO'.
This abnormal function begins years before the disease manifestation starts. Is there a simple repeatable, sensitive tool to study whether the blood vessel function is normal? Yes, says Thanikalchalam -- the non-invasive, non-traumatic equipment called 'CV
PROFILOR'.
This equipment records arterial tracings on a paper for anyone to see from the curve how the Pulse wave is generated and how it decelerates. In-built technology instantaneously quantifies big artery and small artery relaxation.
This has been tested in hundreds of people. The tests:
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Help to identify whether blood vessel relaxation is normal or elasticity is normal;
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If abnormal what is the reason, how severe is the deterioration in the elasticity;
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To intiate necessary steps like Diet, regular exercises, drugs, exercises which will improve the secretion of the substance 'NO';
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To take measures for control of Sugar, Cholesterol, Blood Pressure, to avoid Smoking, and to keep arteries healthy.
The tests using the CV Profilor will cost Rs 500 per head, Thanikachalam said. If elasticity was found to be normal, tests need be done only every three to five years. If elasticity is shown to be borderline, re-tests can be done annually. If the evaluation shows abnormality, the diagnostic tests and treatment using drugs is put into force, Thanikachalam said.
What the conventional ECG will not show, the CV Profilor test may indicate several years earlier, at a very early stage, enabling prevention of cardio-vascular diseases, Thanikalachalam said adding the machine would cost Rs 25 lakh including taxes.
The SRMC registrar Radha Venkatachalam said the check-ups at its hospital in Porur come at nominal rates of Rs 500 per head. Each test took only a few minutes, she added.
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CV Profilor Tests
