Rajasthan CM's health improves following angioplasty

The health of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, who has been admitted in a hospital in Jaipur, is improving rapidly and doctors say he is likely to be discharged by Saturday afternoon.

Jaipur: The health of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is improving rapidly following an angioplasty and he is likely to be discharged from hospital by Saturday afternoon.

Dr. Sudhir Bhandari, Principal of Sawai Mansingh Medical College said that the doctors have done a medical checkup of Gehlot according to the protocol and his health is improving rapidly. After angioplasty, Gehlot's ECG ultrasound and CT were done Saturday morning and the reports of all the tests have come normal.

Apart from this, some necessary tests will be done following which a health bulletin will be issued, Dr Bhandari said. State Health Minister Raghu Sharma was among those who visited Gehlot in the hospital Saturday morning.

Meanwhile, in a letter to the people in the state, Gehlot thanked them for their good wishes and said that he will continue to serve them with full strength.

There was a blockage in my artery, in which a stent has now been inserted,” Gehlot said in the letter. “For some time now, I will be under the supervision of doctors at the Government Sawai Mansingh Hospital, Jaipur. Doctors have advised complete rest for few days. With the best wishes of all of you, soon I will be completely healthy and will be at your service as before.”

Gehlot said that he did not have any cardiac-related problem prior to being afflicted by COVID. According to doctors, this is a post-COVID effect.

“It has been more than three months since I recovered from COVID,” he said. “I had COVID at the peak of the second wave, when there was an outcry over lack of oxygen and beds. That is why, despite being COVID positive, I continued to work day and night.”

He said that, despite advice given by doctors, he could not rest properly because of which he has been sufferinng from post-COVID problems. He explained he has not able to travel and meet people and could not even visit his hometown Jodhpur during Raksha Bandhan.

According to the doctors, he said, COVID has different effects on different people's bodies.

“This affects other organs including heart, brain, kidney, liver. Even after recovering from COVID, problems like headache, exhaustion, breathlessness persist. Therefore both COVID and post-COVID periods should be taken seriously,” Gehlot said.

He urged the people to follow all COVID protocols like wearing mask, social distancing and washing hands seriously.

“Also, get the vaccine on time. If you have recovered from COVID but are showing any other symptoms, then definitely consult your doctor. Follow the doctor's advice and take full care of yourself. Even a slight negligence can be serious,” the Chief Minister added.