Patna: Doctors will share advancements made in functioning of the cardiac catheterisation laboratory besides other cardiac tests during a talk here on Sunday.

Among the topics to be touched upon at the continuing medical education organised by the Indian College of Cardiology are installation of pacemaker, conducting treadmill test and echocardiography test, and monitoring Holter monitor.

At least 60 doctors, including S.N. Arya, Gopal Prasad Sinha, S.S. Chatterjee, Arvind Kumar, and R.K. Agarwal, are expected to participate in the inaugural programme.

Doctors U.C. Samal, Prabhat Kumar, B.B. Bharti, Basant Singh and Nishant Tripathi will also participate in the continuing medical education.

"This will be the first continuing medical education to be organised by the Bihar chapter of Indian College of Cardiology. The state chapter recently opened its office at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS). It will work towards creating awareness about heart diseases, prevention measures and the latest treatments available to patients through various programmes round the year," said Bihar chapter president Dr B.P. Singh, who is also head of department, cardiology, IGIMS. "We have decided to organise a scientific conference every year during December-January while cardiac check-up camps will also be organised in the various districts."

Another member of the state chapter, Dr A.K. Jha said "there has been an alarming increase of heart patients in the state". "Diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and smoking are the major causes behind heart diseases," he said. "Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy diet are the key to keep heart diseases at bay. Regular screening for heart diseases for people above 50 is also advisable."

He attributed junk food and excessive salt intake as reasons of increase in heart ailments.

"Checking blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol is the need of the hour. Hereditary factors are also responsible for heart diseases," he said.