Friday 5 June 2015

90% of cops suffer infection linked to dirty drinking water

Ninety per cent of the city's policemen suffer from the same type of bacterial infection linked t o consumption of contaminated water, a new study suggests.

Doctors from Global Hospital, Parel, examined 250 policemen and found that most of them had the infection caused by the Helicobacter pylori bacterium. Cops were also racked by a host of other ailments.

Thirty per cent of those examined suffered from severe form of acidity and heartburn, 25 per cent complained of an upset stomach after meals and 35 per cent had constipation. The health problems were preventing them from doing their work efficiently, the doctors said.

"Most of the policemen do not get clean drinking water on duty. There is a gap of seven hours between their meals, and this is also affecting their health. Most of them eat outside while on duty, which is not healthy," said gastroenterologist Dr Amit Maydeo from Global Hospital.

Of the 250 policemen, 125 underwent an endoscopy. The procedures were conducted by doctors from Global and JJ hospitals on May 29.

The study focused on gastrointestinal issues, but it also revealed that 67 per cent of the policemen suffered from hypertension, diabetes and heart disease. Seventy per cent of the officers did not get adequate sleep, which was triggering gastric problems.

The doctors are now working on detailed health guidelines that they plan to recommend to the Mumbai police. One of the recommendations is installation of two water purifiers in every police station.

"Police should also be provided easy and free access to healthy food while they are on duty," Maydeo said.

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