Nagpur: Heart specialists of national repute joined the ongoing national debate on work-life balance as they shared their heart health perspectives with TOI on Sunday. Experts gathered in the city for an academic conclave, organised by Viveka Medical Research Foundation, emphasised that the focus should be on work output rather than long working hours.
Dr Ganesh Kumar AV, a veteran cardiologist from Mumbai, spoke on the pressing issue, stressing that young professionals often work tiring schedules with odd hours while neglecting their health. “People reach the office at 9am, take three to four tea and smoking breaks, and stay in the office till 6pm. During these long breaks, they consume unhealthy food and junk snacks. Then, on weekends, they continue the unhealthy eating pattern. What is the point of working 10 or 12 hours if the lifestyle is so damaging? Instead, people should work with full concentration for 8 hours a day, five days a week, and focus on productivity,” he said.
Dr Prashant Jagtap, organising chairman of the conference, highlighted that poor food choices is a major reason for the rise in young-age heart attacks. “We don’t even realise how much cheap carbohydrate we are consuming in the form of packaged food, junk food, and fast food. There should be regulations that clearly label the unhealthy content of food on packages, and there must be a warning on them,” said Dr Jagtap.
Doctors at the conclave also raised concerns over junk food consumption reaching rural India, where traditional hard-work-based lifestyles are fading. “Due to an increase in unhealthy food consumption, heart diseases are now prevalent in villages too. Cardiologists in rural areas must stay updated with the latest technology, as owning medical machines is not enough — proper training is required to operate them efficiently,” said Dr Deepak Sane, President of Cardiological Society of India, Nagpur. Hands-on training in precision angioplasty techniques and imaging technology was a key part of the conclave, attended by over 300 doctors from Central India, tier III cities, and rural areas. Leading experts guided the attendees on advancements in cardiology.
Dr Sanjay Jain, President of the Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS) Nagpur, spoke about the precision of angioplasty surgeries today, noting that AI is playing a crucial role in improving outcomes. “Angioplasty has become a long-lasting and highly effective procedure due to technological advancements. However, there is a shortage of trained manpower, which makes academic events like this vital for doctors,” he said.
One of the event’s highlights was the felicitation of Padma Shri, Dr Samuel Mathew, a pioneer in angioplasty, for his contributions to the field.