Matters of the Heart!

True. Incidence of heart disease has been increasing world over, particularly in India. Most common risk factors are: high cholesterol with high triglycerides,  high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, lack of exercise, sedentary lifestyle, junk food habits and of course, smoking and alcoholism.

It's okay to warn people about risk factors. So that they become careful and apply moderation in everything they do or eat.

But, studies based on selected samples and on a selected time period are increasing by leaps and bounds. They are mostly hypothetical and speculative. Some random samples cannot be binding for all. So, they mislead and confuse people. And, above all, they intend to terrorize people without realizing the simple fact that a negative bend of mind could also be harmful for the heart health.

Recently I read about such a study in a newspaper. The study says that four hours of TV watching a day could increase the risk of heart disease by more than ten percent over the normal risk. Reduce the hours and reduce the risk. The study says that human body is not suitable for continued TV watching posture.

Now, if one more such study says that sitting and working in offices increases heart disease risk considerably then what would happen! Of course, you take breaks or even walks in between office hours; but then, you may do it during TV watching too or in any kind of sedentary activity.

Heart! Don't terrorize!

Indo-Pak Thriller After a Long Time!

Along with FIFA World Cup football matches every evening in India, today we had a bonus of an India-Pakistan Onedayer in the ongoing Asia Cup cricket championship in Sri Lanka.

Like always, the match was tense intense fluctuating and edge of the seat suspense. Finally India won thanks to Harbhajan hitting a six in the penultimate ball of the final over. A reminder of the Javed Miandad last ball six winner at that historic Sharjah match against India in 1986.

Watching football at the same time one is reminded of a basic difference between the two games. No, not those that of rules or fan following.

It's the commercial breaks! Once a soccer match starts you are blissfully free of commercial breaks for 45 minutes. No breaks can afford to break in--not during goal kicks, free kicks, throw ins, corners, penalties or after scoring goals. Not even during injury intervals. Only at half time breaks come when you can also take a break!

But oh cricket! After every over, after every wicket falls, after players get injured or during mid-field discussions about game plan--breaks come flooding in. At the peak of your excitement as to what will happen next, the breaks make you feel like a fool! If Lalit Modi comes back he will definitely try introducing breaks after every ball which will ensure at least 500 extra commercials in every match multiplied by......only Modi can tell you that! In fact, he tried this in IPL-3 T20 format to some extent!

But at the moment, it's best of both the worlds! Better enjoy and not think too much!

Rains Hit Mumbai!

Yes! Monsoon is in Mumbai! Maybe the exact date was not met! But it had been lashing the city since June 11. And, major downpours happened on June 14 and June 16.

The moment you started enjoying the black sky, the rain drops, the drenched street and alleys, the dramatic change in climate, the windy wavy beaches and seasides...well, the related problems also surfaced. Water logging, traffic jams, local train delays, chaos in airports and so on. Yesterday, it was all in one day. Heavy rains since dawn and the high tides later on. And, the forecasts of more rains and high tides for next twenty four hours. But as always, monsoon does not need forecasts to unfold its fury...today being a day of clearing sky and interludes of sunshine.

At the moment lets look at the positive side. Rains are needed for all the good reasons. So enjoy! Monsoon is here to stay for next four months.