New Delhi. All diabetics should have their cardiac examination done as cardiovascular disease accounts for 65% of deaths in patients with type 2 diabetes, said Dr KK Aggarwal, President Heart Care Foundation of India.

Intensive and aggressive management of diabetes can reduce the risk of getting future heart attacks. As per the new guidelines, all patients with diabetes should have a blood pressure below 120/80 mmHg and fasting blood sugar lower than 90 mg%. The ABC of diabetes management is to keep abdominal circumference lower than 32 inches in women and lower than 35 inches in men; blood pressure lower than 120/80 mmHg and LDL cholesterol less than 100 mg%.

Do not ignore sudden hearing loss

Dr Aggarwal also said that unexplained, unilateral, sudden hearing loss should not be ignored and medical consultation should be taken immediately. A hearing loss of more than 30 dB is considered significant. Quite often these patients have associated ringing in the ears and vertigo. The cause may be viral infections and/or vascular insults. In such patients, hearing may be restored if they are treated early. CT scan needs to be done in such cases to rule out brain tumour.

He further said that a dental pain which comes on exertion and is relieved at rest, may be an indication of underlying severe heart blockage. Typically, heart attack patients often present to dentists, orthopaedicians, GI physicians or with ENT surgeons. Any discomfort in the chest, arm, teeth, back of the neck or shoulders which comes on exertion and is relieved by rest, unless proved otherwise, should be considered cardiac in origin.