Physicians Meet in Varanasi for API UP Chapter's 43rd Conference With BHU

Physicians from across the country are gathering in Varanasi for the 43rd annual conference of the Uttar Pradesh chapter of the Association of Physicians of India, being held with the cooperation of Banaras Hindu University on 26 and 27 September. A pre-conference CME was scheduled for Friday, 25 September.

The theme this year is "Precision, Prevention and Progress in Internal Medicine".

Experts will discuss the rapid changes taking place in internal medicine, modern diagnostic techniques, new medicines, and the early detection and prevention of serious diseases, the organisers said. Apart from Uttar Pradesh, doctors, medical teachers, researchers and specialists from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Lucknow, Uttarakhand and Bihar are taking part.

Diabetes gets special sessions. Blood sugar that stays high for a long time can damage the heart, kidneys, eyes and nerves. The sessions will look at new treatment strategies that aim to protect a patient's heart and kidneys instead of focusing only on controlling sugar. Experts will also share their experience with newer-generation medicines and how they are being used.

Lipid disorders are on the programme too. An imbalance of cholesterol and other fats in the body is one of the main risk factors for heart attack and stroke. The conference will discuss control of bad cholesterol (LDL), identification of high-risk patients and the use of modern lipid-lowering medicines.

"In heart attack cases, timely identification and treatment are extremely important," said Prof. K.K. Gupta. Experts will share their experience on risk factors for heart attack, early symptoms, modern treatment methods and the care of patients after a heart attack, he said. The sessions will also stress reducing the risk of heart disease by controlling diabetes and lipid disorders.

Haemophilia, a bleeding disorder, will also be discussed. In haemophilia, some of the clotting factors needed to form a blood clot are missing, so a person can bleed for a long time after an injury, or sometimes without any obvious injury. Specialists will present new information on modern treatment and better management of patients.

Infections form another part of the programme. In treating infection, identifying the right disease and choosing the right drug is important. Experts will discuss serious infections, the correct use of antibiotics and the challenge of antimicrobial resistance, where drugs stop working against the organisms they were meant to kill. Modern strategies for spotting infections early and treating them effectively will also be discussed.

The Association of Physicians of India is the national body of specialists in internal medicine, and its state chapters hold annual conferences for continuing medical education. This year's UP chapter meeting is being held with BHU's cooperation, which brings the conference to Varanasi.

The two-day scientific programme runs on Saturday and Sunday.