As we all live longer, not necessarily a healthy life, cancer, heart problems and dementia, a few among many illnesses that plague us in our old-age. No wonder our NHS is under immense pressure, mainly due to obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, type two diabetes related to excessive sugar intake, smoking, lack of exercise and age related illnesses.
Over the time, high cholesterol level in the blood causes arteries to be clogged, become narrow with fatty deposits and restrict flow of blood to heart causing heart attacks and similar heart problems. Scientists have been working hard for many decades to find a cure or at least a simple, inexpensive solution to treat these ever menacing and on the rise health problems without undergoing surgeries, bypass or inserting stents to stop veins collapsing so that blood can flow freely, delivering much needed oxygen to the over working heart. So it is indeed pleasant news that scientists have made a significant breakthrough in what is considered to be one of the holy grails of cardiovascular disease.
A simple, twice weekly injection may not only stop the clogging of arteries but also reverse the condition, reducing considerably the risk of heart attacks without undergoing risky operations. No matter how minor operation may be, there is always a risk of infection, negligence and procedure failure, as hospital staffs are working under unbearable pressure.
No wonder NHS workload leaves nurses and junior doctors feeling depressed and turning to alcohol and drugs to get-by, as many fail to take even breaks, as they are too busy looking after their patients. Even suicide rate among them is much higher than the national average. It is indeed a shame that successive governments have failed to tackle hospital underfunding, making NHS a political football.
Priorities of our politicians of all political persuasion are bizarre, to say the least, as defence spending, hyped up by imaginary Russian threat and overseas aids are more important than looking after the health and wellbeing of our people, especially OAPs who have fought for this country so that we today enjoy the freedom and life-style we deserve. It is time that this fiddle-faddle nonsense is confined to dustbin, in favour of well-funded progressive approach in line with Scandinavian countries, Germany and France where NHS is a jewel in the crown, available practically on demand.
Kumudini Valambia
By email
