The recent death of a Panaji-based businessman while working out on a treadmill has raised some questions about fitness and gyms
JAY JOSHI
The past week witnessed an untimely death of a rising businessman. Sadashiv Sirsat died with a massive heart attack while working out on a treadmill in a prominent gym. The incident has become a cause of concern and given rise to a number of questions: how far can one push oneself during workout? Are the gym and gym trainers in Goa equipped to prevent sudden deaths during workout?
A number of netizens called for better facilities at the gyms in Goa. Dr Oscar Rebello, a medical practitioner and one of Goa’s prominent social activists makes a number of observations. “Every Gym, must have a working defibrillator machine on its premises. Also, yvery gym trainer needs to have knowledge of basic life resuscitation techniques and CPR,” says the doctor. “The first few minutes after a cardiac arrest are mandatory for any decent chance of survival.” Fitness enthusiasts too must exercise caution and responsibility on their part, suggests Dr Rebello. “Don’t push yourself too hard. Stay within your own limits, which are to be set by you and not the gym instructor.”
Prasad Dhuri, a gym trainer based at Vasco partly agrees, but says it is wrong to blame the gyms and trainers in case of such incidents. “There can be multiple reasons as to why a person can have a cardiac arrest, and it can happen anytime, even while one is just standing. The occurrence of such situation depends on a person’s medical history. It is not directly related to workout, or that particular gym, or that particular trainer,” says Dhuri.
Ponda-based cardiologist Dr lalana Bakhle also underlines that people in general, and those with heart-ailments in particular need to exercise some caution while working out in a gym. “Sometimes people tend to increase their intake of proteins without proper medical advice, or worse, they resort to drugs such as Termin. This can lead to a number of complications,” says the cardiologist, stating that member wishing to join a gym must honestly disclose their medical history to the gym trainer before joining.
Lastly, recently, the NGO Goa civic and consumer action network (GOACAN) wrote a letter to the Health Secretary, of the Government of Goa, stating that a number of gyms are neither registered nor monitored by authorities as prescribed by the government. In its letter, the NGO stated that other than the required trade license being obtained from the Municipal Council or Village Panchayat there is no specialized authority which examines the equipment being used, the qualifications of the trainers/instructors nor are there any checks for the availability of a first aid medical kit.
