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Headaches - Trace the Cause Headaches are as common as a cold. It can be due to several factors and to deal with a headache, one would need to deal with the cause. So the first thing one needs to do is to know the reasons for which one might get a headache.
Common Tests for Diabetes There are three common tests that are used to diagnose diabetes. These are the Fasting Plasma Glucose test, the Glucose Tolerance Test and the Glycosylated Hemoglobin Estimation test.
Triglycerides and Type 2 Diabetes People with diabetes, especially Type 2 diabetes are often told to keep a close eye on their cholesterol levels because they have a higher-than-normal risk for heart and blood vessel disease.
Heat Stroke Sunstroke or heat stroke is a common phenomenon during summer. When the sun bakes the earth during summers, it's wise to either remain indoors or keep away from the harsh rays of the sun. Otherwise you invite trouble in the form of sunstroke.
Hepatitis C - An Unresolved Mystery Hepatitis C is a slowly progressive disease that may gradually advance over 10-40 years. This disease may progress faster when acquired in middle age or older. Almost all HCV-related liver cancer occurs with cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver.
Tobacco and Oral Cancer Misuse of tobacco can be done in many ways and especially in India, the habit of chewing tobacco is responsible for an epidemic of oral cancer, of a magnitude not seen anywhere else in the world.
Tests for Coronary Heart Disease Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a common form of heart disease and is a major cause of illness and death. Screening tests to detect signs of CAD before serious medical events occur are therefore of particular importance for patients with risk factors for CAD.
Nasal Endoscopy Nasal endoscope is an instrument used to observe any signs of obstruction and detect nasal polyps hidden from routine nasal examination.
Hypoglycemia Hypoglycemia is a condition of abnormally low blood sugar (glucose). Insulin shock is a term for extensive hypoglycemia that results in unconsciousness.
Hyperglycemia Hyperglycemia is an abnormally high glucose concentration in blood, plasma, or serum. High blood sugars can cause loss of body fluids. You may need to have fluids and body salts by vein to replace those you have lost.
How to Improve Glucose Metabolism? Type 1 diabetics, who try to increase their physical activity without reducing insulin, have to consume more calories to keep blood sugar levels in check. Those extra calories could make it difficult to lose weight.
Heartburn Heartburn is a pain behind the breastbone or in the mid-line of the back often described as 'burning'. It is a digestive problem and has nothing to do with the heart.
Blood Transfusion and AIDS Medical laboratories do two types of tests for HIV, screening tests and confirmatory tests. These tests do not detect the virus itself but measure the antibodies produced by the body to fight HIV.
Fibromyalgia Fibromyalgia results due to low levels of the hormone cortisol. It causes musculoskeletal pain, multiple tender points, fatigue, sleep disturbances, irritable bowel movements and anxiety.
Episiotomy The area between the vaginal outlet and rectum called perineum stretches and thins out considerably during labor. Episiotomy is an incision made during the final stages of labor between the vagina and rectum, to facilitate delivery.
Cheiroarthropathy - A Complication of Diabetes Cheiroarthropathy is a syndrome of limited joint mobility that occurs in patients with diabetes. Cheiroarthropathy is characterized by thickening of the skin resulting in contracture of the fingers.
Understanding Epilepsy Having a seizure doesn’t necessarily mean that you have epilepsy. Seizures can be triggered in anyone under extreme conditions, such as severe dehydration or high temperature. But when a person experiences repeated seizures for no obvious external or internal reasons it is said that he/she might have epilepsy.
Osteoporosis and Calcium Studies have shown that there is a direct link between calcium which forms the basis for all bones and osteoporosis.
Understanding Glaucoma Glaucoma is the name given to a group of diseases that can cause damage to the optic nerve and can result in loss of vision.
Understanding and Treating Blepharospasm Blepharospasm is a focal disorder, which causes uncontrolled and abnormal blinking. Although people suffering from this disorder have a normal vision, they may experience some visual disturbances due to excessive blinking.
Control Astigmatism with Regular Eye Care Astigmatism is a type of refractive error, which occurs when the cornea which is the front surface of your eye or the lens inside your eye is slightly irregular in shape, resulting in vision being blurred at all distances.
What Causes Back Pain? Back pain is very common. Four of every five people have back pain at some point in their lives. And yet, most people don't know what causes it, and what they can do to prevent it.
Neck Pain Almost everyone has experienced a neck pain. It can be either mild and annoying or extremely severe. The most obvious and common cause of a neck pain is awkward positions.
Myths about Anthrax News of anthrax outbreaks is always scary. Anyone receiving any powder through mail gets panicky. Although nothing should be taken lightly, one should know the facts to be able to differentiate between a real threat and a hoax.
Anthrax Infection Anthrax is a rapidly progressing acute infection caused by spore-forming bacteria called Bacillus anthracis. It is most common in warm-blooded animals, especially goats, cattle, and sheep, but it can also infect humans.
Myocarditis Myocarditis may be a complication during or after various viral, bacterial, or parasitic infectious diseases, such as polio, influenza, rubella, or rheumatic fever. It may appear as a primary disease in adults or as a degenerative disease of old age.
Heart Stroke in Women Breast cancer and cervical cancer were the diseases thought to be responsible for many deaths among women. But it has come to notice that heart stroke is also one of the leading causes, although it is usually associated with men.
Heart Disease and Sex There is a lot of speculation among heart patients whether sex is advisable. Having a heart attack or undergoing a heart surgery is not the end of the world, let alone to a satisfying sex life.
Am I Missing a Heart Attack? Missing a heart attack symptom or angina can sometimes prove fatal to the patients, especially for atypical presentations of angina and myocardial infarction.
Smokers More Likely to Die of Heart Disease than of Cancer The most common perception is that smokers are at a high risk to develop cancer. But in reality, coronary heart disease and stroke are the primary types of cardiovascular disease caused by smoking.
Pneumonia Can Be Prevented Pneumonia is the commonest infectious disease of the lungs. Pneumonia is an infection of the lung substance in which the alveoli in one or more areas of the lungs become infected and lead to accumulation of fluid in the lung substance.
Male Breast Cancer Being diagnosed with breast cancer can be a very trying and anxious time for a man. One may experience a range of emotions such as shock, disbelief or anger. These feelings are very common, although everybody responds differently and has their own way of coping.
Lump in the Breast Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death in women. Usually the condition presents itself as a lump in the breast and is often overlooked. A lump is an abnormal mass, which can occur in any part of the body. It is detected by palpating breasts.
Achilles Tendonitis The Achilles tendon is a band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the calf muscle of the leg. Injury to the tendon may cause it to become inflamed or torn. Achilles tendonitis is the term used when the tendon is inflamed.
Follow Up Treatment in Tuberculosis The patient on Anti-TB treatment needs close observation throughout the period of treatment which may vary from 6 months to a year or more.
Malaria Malaria is a serious parasitic infection that destroys red cells in the blood and can adversely affect the functioning of the kidneys, liver, and brain, occasionally leading to death.
TB and HIV The HIV virus cripples our defence (immune) system. Over a period of time as the immunity decreases, naturally the person becomes susceptible to various common diseases. One of the notorious germs, which lurk in the air, is the TB germ.
Bronchial Asthma and the Wheezy Child Due to increasing pollution, smoke and smog in the cities, during the last decade, the incidence of asthma has almost doubled among urban children. Children are more susceptible to wheezing because they have relatively narrow air passages compared to adults.
Testicular Cancer The risk of developing Testicular Cancer (TC) is increased in those who have undescended or late descended testicles (the testicles normally descend into the scrotum before birth).
Occupational Asthma Occupational asthma, a form of asthma, is a lung disease in which the airways overreact to dust, vapors, gases, or fumes that exist in the workplace. In short, it means that symptoms are caused or aggravated by the workplace environment.
Lobster Allergy "Lobster allergy" falls under the category of "Food Allergy", more specifically, under "Sea Food Allergy". According to different studies the prevalence of lobster allergy can be estimated to be about 0.6 to 2.8% in food allergic individuals.
Urinary Tract Infection in Women Urine in a healthy bladder is normally free of bacteria. However, bacteria from the rectal area or vaginal area (due to close proximity) may enter the urinary tract through the urethra and travel the short distance to the bladder. While normally the bladder cleanses itself of bacteria, if for some reason it can’t, the bacteria may cause an infection.
Urinary Infection in Women Urinary infection is the most common problem affecting women and if improperly treated or neglected could lead to the most dreaded end result, kidney failure.
Urinary Incontinence in Women Although anyone may experience urinary incontinence, women are more susceptible than men, particularly during pregnancy and after childbirth. It is a major health problem, affecting 1 in 6 women to a varying degree.
Urinary Incontinence Incontinence is a condition wherein a person loses control over his bladder movements. It is usually associated with old age, but actually incontinence can occur in anyone any time.
Understanding Migraine If you are suffering from migraine, you are amongst distinguished company. Zeus the father of Greek gods had suffered from such a severe headache (migraine) that he required a surgical operation.
Importance of Health Screening to Prevent Heart Disease It is estimated that nearly 30 percent of the people who experience a heart attack are not able to reach the hospital in time. Since it is very difficult to wait for the onset of symptoms that pre-empt a heart attack, and then diagnose a heart problem, it’s always good to have a health check-up, even if you feel you are perfectly healthy. This is because nobody knows what kind of problems are developing inside your body unless you go in for a check-up.
Side Effects of Cancer Treatment Cancer treatment is known to have side effects. This is mainly because treatment aimed to kill the rapidly growing cancer cells impacts normal cells too.
Dreams during Pregnancy When we sleep, most of us dream through the night. But many pregnant women experience very intense dreams throughout their pregnancy. These dreams range from vividly pleasant to nightmarish and bizarre. This is however quite normal.
Water Birth Why a water birth, you may ask. Have you ever noticed how relaxed you are when you are in a warm bath? This applies to the baby as well. From swimming in the amniotic fluid, he swims into a tub of warm water and is gently picked up by his own mother.
The Caesarean Story When a pregnant woman cannot deliver her baby the normal way, doctors are forced to make an artificial (surgical) incision in the abdomen.
Heart Disease and Pregnancy The heart is put under greater pressure and stress during pregnancy. For a person who is suffering from heart ailments may find it difficult to cope with this pressure.
Do Not Neglect Constipation A daily bowel movement is very essential for a healthy body. The food we eat is digested in the stomach and the waste material is thrown out in the form of bowels. Constipation is a condition where the bowel movement is not free or when the stools are hard.
Thalassemia: Anemia Wherein Iron Supplements Are Contraindicated Thalassemia: Anemia Wherein Iron Supplements Are Contraindicated Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder, which really has no cure yet. However, understanding thalassemia may help in curtailing its expression and reducing the morbidity (illness due to the disease), mortality (death due to the disease) and - more importantly - the cost and burden of treatment.
Understanding Anemia and Correcting It Anemia is a condition where the red blood cells of a person drop below normal. Generally, decreased red blood cell production, increased red blood cell destruction or blood loss are the mechanisms responsible for anemia. Treatment depends on the etiology or the specific cause.
Diagnosing Anemia Anemia is discovered when a blood test shows low hemoglobin. The diagnosis of the cause starts with a thorough exam of the patient and then a couple of very simple tests: peripheral blood smear exam under the microscope and a reticulocyte count blood test. A bone marrow biopsy is required in rare cases when the reticulocyte count is very low and no simple cause can be seen on routine blood tests.
Constipation during Pregnancy During pregnancy you need to take extra care about yourself. You should eat a proper diet and do mild exercises and keep yourself and the little one healthy. But many health problems crop up during this period. One such problem is constipation.
Notorious Cold We have the bravest strongest and the smartest of weapons - the antibiotics, but these do not matter to these viruses as they set about reducing us to coughing, sneezing and blowing.
Hearing Difficulties In a considerable number of cases, a hearing difficulty starts so gradually that the sufferer is not quite aware of it. As it progresses, there is difficulty in understanding speech and if they do they may not be able to hear it clearly.
Cure for the Common Cold Although a cure for the common cold has eluded the world's top scientists for decades, some research shows investigators are getting closer -- and it's about time.
Catching a Cold How do you catch a cold? With your hands of course - how else can you catch anything? What is this cold? How is it any different from 'flu’? What does one do when one catches this devil, 'cold'?
For A Smile That Dazzles Dental Care mainly involves the performance of oral hygiene which is the practice of keeping ones mouth and teeth clean to prevent dental problems. The main aspects of oral hygiene is teeth, gum and tongue care. It also includes paying attention to the kind of food one ingests.
Blood Pressure-The Silent Killer High blood pressure, a largely ignored physical condition is said to be one of the world’s biggest killers. Studies show that about 54% of all strokes and 25% of other cardiovascular diseases are related to high blood pressure. Doctors believe that increasing amounts of stress, combined with unhealthy dietary habits and lack of exercise has led to the increasing incidence of hypertension
Smart Eating:Your Way To A Perfect Body Experts agree that the key to healthy eating is contained in three main factors-balance, variety and moderation. In short, it means eating a wide variety of foods at regular intervals, in small quantities, is the best way to keep your metabolism active and stay lean and healthy.
Latex Allergy Latex allergy is a reaction to certain proteins in latex rubber. Mild reactions to latex involve skin redness, rash, hives, or itching. More severe reactions may involve respiratory symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes, scratchy throat, and asthma.
Living with Diabetes Diabetes is a complex condition that can cause many other related illnesses. For this reason, diabetics need to pay special attention to their diets and their lifestyle in order to prevent further complications.
Food Allergies Food allergy is a disease mechanism triggered by common proteins in the diet. The main offending foods are staples such as cows' milk, eggs, wheat, soya, and meat.
Environmental Allergy Some people suffer from hay fever when pollen is in the air. Others develop skin rashes when they touch certain substances. Still others experience stomach cramps after eating particular foods. All these ailments are caused by allergic reactions to various substances.
Common Complications of Allergies Many people suffering with allergies also develop one or more associated medical problems — such as nasal polyps, ear infections, and asthma. Some of the complications like headaches result from the allergy itself.
Diabetic Foot and Amputation It is estimated that 15 percent of all diabetics will develop a serious foot condition at some time in their lives.
Diabetic Eye Problems Difficulty in vision and eye problems leading to blindness is one of the chronic complications associated with diabetes.
Diabetic Eye Disease Diabetic eye disease refers to a group of eye problems that people with diabetes may face as a complication of this disease. It can cause severe vision loss or even blindness.
What Is Hypertension? Hypertension or high blood pressure is a situation when the pressure of blood flowing through blood vessels is elevated over a prolonged period, irrespective of body's needs.
High Blood Pressure in Children Various diseases including heart and kidney ailments invariably cause high blood pressure in children; if the disease is successfully treated the blood pressure automatically drops. Sometimes certain medications given to children could cause an increase in blood pressure and discontinuation results in a normal blood pressure.
Antihypertensives Antihypertensives are drugs used to treat hypertension. There are several classes of antihypertensives, each serving people with different health conditions.
The Smoker's Cough Nobody worries about an occasional cough. Coughing is a common symptom, so common, in fact, that it is the fifth most frequent complaint that sends patients to their doctor, accounting for 30 million of patient visits each year.
Chronic Cough If your cough has been hanging around for a month or more, then you have a chronic cough. A cough may seem like a very common thing; you feel you can just dose it and ignore it. Don’t do that. Your cough, if it is a chronic one, may be serious.
Your Child's Cough Coughs are one of the most frequent symptoms of childhood illness, calling for the maximum number of visits to the doctor. However, at times it may not be possible for you to take him to the doctor.
Childhood Obesity BMI (Body Mass Index) charts for children would help children check if they are over weight. Any child having BMI equal to or greater than 95 percentile can be considered obese.
Cochlear Implantation: Profound Deafness Need Not Be a World of Silence All over the world, Cochlear Implantation is allowing profoundly deaf children understand and develop speech, enter mainstream school and lead normal social activity. Cochlear Implantation actually interacts with the human nervous system more closely than any other prosthetic device.
Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Snoring is a common problem affecting both genders and all ages. The disturbance it causes is regarded as a joke about which little can be done. Snoring is also reckoned to be a major factor that contributes to marital discord.
Forceps Delivery First used by Dr. Peter Chamberlain in the 16th century in England, very secretively to assist royal births, forceps are used to facilitate babies who pass the pelvic bones but find it difficult to pass through the entire birth canal.
Doubly Blessed The idea of having twins is always fascinating. It seems mysterious how one pregnancy can result in more than one baby. Being pregnant is itself a blessing, but when you are pregnant with twins, you are doubly blessed, aren’t you?
Caesarean Section When a pregnant woman cannot deliver her baby the normal way, doctors are forced to make an artificial (surgical) incision in the abdomen. Such a delivery is known a Caesarean section.
Children Emergencies Many a time we face certain emergencies involving infants or children. These emergencies may occur anywhere - at home, in the park, on the road, or at school. If one knows how to handle these emergency situations properly, one can probably make the difference between life and death.
Children and Heart Disease Most children who have cardiac problems are born with them. The good news is that these heart defects can be overcome and that your child can grow and develop normally.
Chickenpox in Children Chickenpox is a disease which can affect people of any age group, but usually it is children who are most affected. It is caused by a virus known as the "varicella zoster virus". Normally it occurs only once, but there are a certain isolated cases where the disease has occurred for a second time.
Diabetic Neuropathy Over 65 percent of people with diabetes eventually end up with diabetic nerve damage. Like all other diabetes complications, poor blood glucose control is the cause of neuropathy.
Diabetic Kidney Disease Kidney related health problems are very common in diabetics. According to an estimate, about 30 percent of patients with Type I (juvenile) diabetes and 10 to 40 percent of those with Type II diabetes will eventually have kidney failure.
Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a very serious problem in patients with diabetes mellitus. Too much sugar and ketones in your blood may lead to a life-threatening condition and may cause DKA. If DKA is not treated, it could lead to coma and death.
Uterine Cancer When doctors speak of uterine cancer, they're usually referring to cancer of the endometrium - the lining of the uterus, which plays a key role in reproduction.
Colorectal Cancer Colorectal cancer includes cancers of the colon, rectum, appendix and anus. Most colorectal cancers develop first as colorectal polyps, which are growths inside the colon or rectum that may later become cancerous.
Cervical Cancer and Pap Test Cervical cancer or cancer of the cervix is the most common malignancy in women worldwide, second only to breast cancer. Cervical cancers and precursor lesions are firmly associated with the presence of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) DNA.
Birth of My Baby Birth is a major transition for both mother and baby. Before your baby is born, the process leading up to his birth and the delivery of the placenta is called labor.
Cold and Allergy Colds are very common. There's hardly anybody who at some point or the other hasn't had a bout of cold. But sometimes we are told that the sneezing, the runny nose, the itchy eyes are not symptoms of the common cold, but are actually that of allergy. So, what's the difference?
Allergy and the Central Nervous System Sneezing, wheezing, watery eyes and running nose aren't the only symptoms of allergic diseases. Many people with allergic rhinitis also report feeling "slower" and drowsy. When their allergies are acting up, they have trouble concentrating and remembering.
Allergies in Winter Winter is not treated by many as an allergy season, but if you are allergic to dust, or more accurately - the mold, pollen, mites and insect parts that linger in dust — winter can be the worst time of the year for you.
Keeping Breast Cancer At Bay Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in women. Studies say that one in every eleven women is diagnosed with breast cancer every year. While the causes of breast cancer are not fully understood, research shows that you can lower your risk of developing the disease just by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and eating right.
Side Effects of Chemotherapy Experienced by Cancer Patients The basic principle of action of chemotherapeutic agents used to treat cancer is killing cells that proliferate, grow and replicate. Since cell multiplication and regeneration is characteristic of normal cells as well, chemo drugs may have deleterious effect on these normal growing cells.
World Heart Day: Its Significance for India World Heart Day – September 28th - is of special significance to India and all Indians. Over 3 million Indians lose their lives every year, succumbing to heart attacks and strokes. This toll is expected to touch over 5 million deaths by the year 2020.
Back Pain: Physiotherapy or Surgery? Nine out of ten patients have mechanical back pain and do not require surgery. The majority of these cases need only physical rehabilitation, regular exercise and intermittent, occasional support with medication.
Back Pain and Modern Lifestyle Back pain is one of the most significant complaints in the middle and old ages today, mainly due the lifestyle patterns followed by people. It may be caused due to disproportionate aging of the back in comparison to other body parts, which leads to poor posture, discomfort in sitting, disturbed sleep and so on.
Diabetes Insipidus Diabetes Insipidus is not related to diabetes mellitus. People suffering from Diabetes Insipidus have kidneys that don't concentrate urine very well. The urine is more diluted and they have to urinate often. They might wake up 2 or 3 times in the night to urinate. People with diabetes insipidus are thirsty all the time. They often want to drink liquids every hour.
Diabetes during Pregnancy If you have diabetes, your body cannot use the sugar (glucose) in your blood as well as it should, so the level of sugar in your blood becomes higher than normal. Gestational Diabetes is a type of diabetes that starts during pregnancy.
Diabetes and Your Heart Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death in the world, and heart disease is the leading cause of diabetes-related deaths. In fact, heart disease-deaths are 2 to 4 percent higher in diabetics than in persons without diabetes.
Allergies and How to Deal with Them All of us experience an allergic reaction or have sensitivity to something. One could be allergic to dust, cold, perfumes, flowers, strawberries, wheat, milk, curds, certain medicines, insect sting or animal dander. For people suffering with asthma, allergic reactions can be especially severe.
Allergic Vasculitis Allergic Vasculitis can be defined as a hypersensitivity to a drug or foreign agent which leads to a skin disorder with inflammation and damage to blood vessels of the skin. It is also known as Vasculitis or Vasculitis-hypersensitivity.
Allergic Headaches The causes of headaches are as numerous as are the ways in which they present. Allergies are one of the major causes of headaches.
Alcoholic Gastritis Is the Warning Signal Alcohol induces gastritis (inflammation of the stomach) in two ways. It irritates the inner lining of the stomach and it increases the acidity of its gastric contents. Either way, the stomach is subjected to a lot of torture resulting in inflammation.
FAQs on Alcohol and Liver Diseases Are Men or Women more likely to get Alcoholic Hepatitis? Do all alcoholics get liver diseases? Is there any connection between alcohol and its effects on liver? Most people are confused about the relationship between alcohol and the liver. Research revealed that there is much misunderstanding on this subject.
Alcohol May Aggravate Diabetes Alcohol is everywhere – at family gatherings, at cookouts, after the softball game, at parties. "What would you like to have?" someone asks. If you have diabetes, what will you say? It all depends. Start by asking yourself three basic questions: Is my diabetes under control? Does my healthcare provider agree that I am free from health problems that alcohol can make worse-for example, diabetic nerve damage or high blood pressure? Do I know how alcohol can affect me and my diabetes?
Lactation Amenorrhea Breast-feeding has been known to be an effective means of contraception from time immemorial. It is recorded that Aristotle wrote, "While women are suckling children, menstruation does not occur nor do they conceive; if they do conceive, the milk dries up." In rural India and some other countries in the third world, this is the only contraceptive that the women use to space their pregnancies.
Menstrual Abnormalities Every month, the uterus is prepared for pregnancy, and if pregnancy does not occur the interlining sheds off. This is menstruation. Problems related to menstruation should not be ignored. In fact, one should not wait for more than two cycles before contacting the doctor for menstrual irregularity.
Am I Pregnant? There are many signs and symptoms of pregnancy, although they can vary from person to person.
Using a Peak Flow Meter A peak flow meter is a simple and inexpensive device that measures breathing pressure of your lungs. Monitoring your breathing with a peak flow meter can help you assess how open your airways are. That way, you'll be forewarned in case your asthma is worsening. - Compiled by the ApolloLife Content Team in consultation with: Dr Pradyut Waghray, Consultant Chest Physician, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine Specialist, Senior Consultant Pulmonologist.
Understanding Your Addiction to Smoking and the Benefits of Quitting Did you know that there are over 4,000 chemicals in cigarette smoke? These include formaldehyde (used to preserve dead bodies), ammonia (used in strong cleaning liquids) and cadmium (a highly poisonous metal used in batteries). And if that isn’t reason enough for you to quit smoking, there are more. - Dr Kumaresh Krishnamoorthy, Senior Consultant in ENT - Neurotology and Head & Neck Oncosurgery
Smokers More Likely to Die of Heart Disease than of Cancer The most common perception is that smokers are at a high risk to develop cancer. But in reality, coronary heart disease and stroke are the primary types of cardiovascular disease caused by smoking. - Dr Mohammed Rehan Sayeed, Senior Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon
How Harmful Is Second Hand Smoke? Second hand smoke is the smoke from a burning cigarette, pipe or cigar. It is also the smoke exhaled by a smoker. When a person smokes near you, you breathe in the second-hand smoke. - Dr Kumaresh Krishnamoorthy, Senior Consultant in ENT - Neurotology and Head & Neck Oncosurgery
FAQs on Your Decision to Quit Smoking Dr Kumaresh Krishnamoorthy, Senior Consultant in ENT - Neurotology and Head & Neck Oncosurgery
How to Stop Smoking Quitting is hard. Smokers often say, "Don't tell me why to quit, tell me how." But then, there is no one right way to quit, though there are some key guidelines to help in quitting smoking successfully. - Dr Kumaresh Krishnamoorthy, Senior Consultant in ENT - Neurotology and Head & Neck Oncosurgery
Healthcare for Tobacco Consumers It is well known that tobacco use puts you at risk for certain health-related illnesses, so part of your healthcare should focus on related screening and preventive measures to help you stay as healthy as possible
Precautions to Be Followed By Patients Undergoing Cancer Treatment Cancer treatment includes surgery (removing the tumor and the surrounding infiltrated or affected tissue or lymph nodes), chemotherapy (killing tumor cells by medicines) and radiotherapy (killing tumor cells by using radiation). Treatment, by and large, is aimed at essentially benefitting cancer patients by halting the progress of the disease, or even reversing its progress in some cases, which is regarded as the so called “Complete Response”. Consequently, the effect may range from no response or stable disease, partial response to a complete remission. By Dr. Zehratul Quresh
Evolution of Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Modalities n the past, gross examination and light microscopy were the only tools available for the pathologist. For most malignancies, cancer cells are heterogeneous with multiple histologic and pathologic appearances. However, even within the same kind of tissues, type differences are observed in presentation, treatment response, and outcomes. Dr P P Bapsy, Senior Consultant – Medical Oncology
Danger Signs in Patients on Cancer Treatment. Danger signs, as the name suggests, are warning signals that need to be attended to immediately, and more so in a patient undergoing treatment for cancer. However, it is important to understand that these symptoms may occur due to the disease condition itself and/or the treatment of cancer including surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy, in combination or alone. By Dr Zehratul Quresh
Cancer – Metastases Cancerous cells are generally metastatic in nature. This means that the cancer can spread from the place in which it started to other parts of the body. The original tumor where the cancer began is called the primary cancer. When it spreads to a different area, it is a metastatic tumor, commonly referred to as secondary cancer Compiled by the ApolloLife Team in consultation with Dr Vijay Anand P Reddy, Radiation Oncologist
Cancer in Pregnancy Cancer in pregnancy can turn out to be quite challenging for not just the obstetrician and the oncologist, but also the mother and her forthcoming baby. By Dr Zehratul Quresh
Arthritis: A Degenerative Condition The other common type of arthritis is called rheumatoid arthritis. In this disease, the immune system of the body reacts against the joints and musculoskeletal tissues. This causes inflammation of joints, and leads to wear and tear.
Knee Replacement Surgery For Arthritis:FAQs The knee joint is the articulation between the thigh bone (femur) and leg bone (tibia). The knee cap articulates with the femur. Knee replacement involves resection of the articulating surfaces of these bones and replacing them with metal and plastic bearing surfaces.
Treating Arthritis The treatment plan for arthritis helps patients to deal with the condition, though there is no known cure for it that could help reverse the condition.
Bronchodilators can help control Asthma Since asthma is an inflammatory disorder, we need to administer anti inflammatory drugs in the form of inhaled steroids to treat it. These are called ‘preventers’. Some time back, the treatment method prescribed was the use of bronchodilators or quick-relief providing drugs.
The Subtleties of Chakras We are only now beginning to build machines that can investigate the universe of the atom, and that in itself is no mean task. To be able to develop a medium to visibly detect or capture something as subtle as the Chakra, will require keen research.
Is My New Born Normal? From a pediatrician’s point of view, the first thing that needs to be done as soon as the baby is born is to assess whether the newborn baby is a term baby or a pre-term (premature) baby, because the care differs in both the cases.
Breastfeeding FAQs What mothers need to understand is that a hungry baby will have 50% of the milk it needs from one breast in the first 2 minutes. The baby will finish the remainder of its feed in the next 10-15 minutes. After this, the baby continues to latch on to the breast for comfort and satisfaction, even though no milk is produced.
Common Concerns Of New Mothers Regarding Their Newborns Most new mothers are prone to anxiety over some common concerns with regard to their newborn babies. The following are the usual concerns, and some tips on how they need to be addressed.
Breastfeeding Tips For New Mother The birth of a baby is one of the most exciting moments for a woman. But amidst all the excitement, most women also experience moments of anxiety, and especially so if they are first-time mothers. Some of this anxiety is owed to the responsibility of breastfeeding the baby for the first time.
All You Wanted To Know About Premature Babies Babies born anytime before 37 weeks of gestation are called pre term or premature babies. Pre term babies have their own handicaps as they are probably not fully developed because they still have a growth period which has been cut short.
Does Your Heart Burn? Heartburn unlike its name had nothing to do with the heart. It is also known by the name Pyrosis. Though some heart disease has similar symptoms, heartburn is caused due to regurgitation of gastric acids felt through a painful burning sensation in the esophagus just below the breastbone. The gastric acid is the hydrochloric acid created by the enzymes within the stomach.
Does Your Heart Burn? Heartburn unlike its name had nothing to do with the heart. It is also known by the name Pyrosis. Though some heart disease has similar symptoms, heartburn is caused due to regurgitation of gastric acids felt through a painful burning sensation in the esophagus just below the breastbone. The gastric acid is the hydrochloric acid created by the enzymes within the stomach.
Play It Out! What is the difference between exercise and play? Isn’t work exercise as well, and so how is play any different?
Pop-ups On Your Face? Teenagers on the whole are overly concerned about how they look and what other people are saying about them. Acne is a common skin problem that usually begins in the young teenage years and can last until the early 20s or even later, particularly in females. Even though acne is a common problem it can have a serious psychological effect on the teenager and can affect how he or she performs in school and acts socially.
Breastfeeding Tips For New Mother The birth of a baby is one of the most exciting moments for a woman. But amidst all the excitement, most women also experience moments of anxiety, and especially so if they are first-time mothers. Some of this anxiety is owed to the responsibility of breastfeeding the baby for the first time. Read More…
Smart Eating:Your Way To A Perfect Body Experts agree that the key to healthy eating is contained in three main factors-balance, variety and moderation. In short, it means eating a wide variety of foods at regular intervals, in small quantities, is the best way to keep your metabolism active and stay lean and healthy. Read More…
Warming Up To A Workout Getting off the couch and into an exercise program? Great! But before your urge to be a great body-builder takes hold, remember that you could do more damage than good if you jump right into a marathon run or body-building routine without taking the time to bring your body up to speed. Read More…
For A Smile That Dazzles Dental Care mainly involves the performance of Oral Hygiene which is the practice of keeping ones mouth and teeth clean to prevent dental problems. The main aspects of oral hygiene is teeth, gum and tongue care. Also paying attention the kind of food one ingests. Read More…
Unlock The Secrets Of The Heart Meet the most important, most used and misunderstood organ in the entire human body – The heart.
Make Your Heart Beat Longer And Stronger Reducing the risk of heart attack usually means making healthy lifestyle choices. You also may need treatment for medical conditions that raise your risk. Read More…
Does Asthma Affect Your Lifestyle? Asthma can affect your lifestyle if it is not controlled properly. The intermittent wheeze produced by asthma causes some duress to the patient. Read More…
Combating Workplace Stress Stress is much more common than it once used to be. While stress itself can lead to somatoform disorders, it is also possible to spot signs early on, and develop effective strategies to combat it. Read More…
Breathe!! Breath is life itself. We breathe to take in oxygen and to exhale unwanted gases. So is breathing related to just oxygenation of blood or is it an integral part of a larger process called life? Read More…
Blood Pressure-The Silent Killer High blood pressure, a largely ignored physical condition is said to be one of the world’s biggest killers. Studies show that about 54% of all strokes and 25% of other cardiovascular diseases are related to high blood pressure. Doctors believe that increasing amounts of stress, combined with unhealthy dietary habits and lack of exercise has led to the increasing incidence of hypertension. Read More…
What a Headache! A large amount of headaches that appear in individuals are benign, mostly caused due to stress, migraines, eye strain or dehydration. It is characterized by the sensation of pain in the area of the head, neck or upper back.
Warming Up to a Workout Getting off the couch and into an exercise program? Great! But before your urge to be a great body-builder takes hold, remember that you could do more damage than good if you jump right into a marathon run or body-building routine without taking the time to bring your body up to speed.
Play It Out! What is the difference between exercise and play? Isn’t work exercise as well, ? So how is play any different?
Insomnia Insomnia is a disorder that is characterized by the repeated inability to fall asleep or stay asleep. Insomnia tends to increase with age, severely affecting adults above the age of 40. It is a medical sleep disorder that changes the pattern of sleep in individuals and could result in the incapability of normal physical, mental and emotional functioning.
Combating Workplace Stress Stress is much more common than it once used to be. While stress itself can lead to somatoform disorders, it is also possible to spot signs early on, and develop effective strategies to combat it.
Beating the Heat-: The Right Stroke Every year hundreds of people are affected by heat conditions during peak summer resulting in a series of afflictions including hyperthermia, tissue damage and even death. As global warming levels rise, heat waves are a becoming increasingly common with above average temperatures being observed across the globe.
Is Starving an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder? If you always thought that starvation is the direct result of poverty, think again. It is now a known fact that almost 40% of the female population aged between 15 to 19 years; amongst the western industrialized countries suffer from the eating disorder called Anorexia Nervosa, and at least 10% of its male population suffers the same disorder.
Does Your Child Have Diabetes? Raising children is challenging under the best of circumstances. When a child has a chronic disease such as diabetes, the challenges become even greater. Fortunately today, advances in treatment have made diabetes far less difficult to deal with. Yet, it is a serious condition with potentially critical complications, and requires lifelong monitoring and treatment.
Know More About Diabetes Diabetes Mellitus, commonly known as Diabetes, is a disease identified by high levels of blood sugar and a disordered metabolism owing to low levels of the hormone Insulin, the pancreas is unable to produce in sufficient amounts.
Common Concerns Of New Mothers Usually, the umbilical cord falls off from the base in about 1 to 2 weeks. If this does not happen even after 2 weeks, the doctor will need to look into the pathological reasons for the stump of the umbilical cord not falling off.
All You Wanted To Know About Premature Babies Babies born anytime before 37 weeks of gestation are called pre term or premature babies. Pre term babies have their own handicaps as they are probably not fully developed because they still have a growth period which has been cut short.
What Is Chickenpox? Chicken Pox is a highly contagious airborne disease, that is rarely fatal that is caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV). The disease is characterized by the appearance of small spots on the body, arms and head that turn into itchy pox marks. It is said to be less severe in infected children rather than adults.
Understanding Your Child’s Health Children are more susceptible to disease owing to both a smaller physical body and some as yet under matured organs, which are still in development. Worse still are diseases that particularly target children...
Unlock the Secrets of the Heart Meet the most important, most used and misunderstood organ in the entire human body – The heart
Women Equal Men in Risk of Heart Disease The only difference is that women in the child bearing age, that is, up to the age of 45, are largely protected by their hormones. But after the age of 45, women are as susceptible to coronary artery disease as men. This alarming trend could be the outcome of drastic lifestyle changes in the post-globalization era and other reasons.
The Golden Hour : When Seconds Count The golden hour is a critical time, and TIME IS MUSCLE. This is because the heart muscle starts to die within 80-90 minutes after it stops getting blood, and within six hours, almost all the affected parts of the heart could be irreversibly damaged. So, the faster normal blood flow is reestablished, the lesser would be the damage to the heart.
Myths and Facts About Heart Attack There are a number of myths associated with a heart attack. Many myths actually start with a little bit of truth. First of all, knowing what a heart attack is, is important for us in order to clarify the myths associated with it.
Coronary Bypass Surgery Before the advent of bypass surgery, people who suffered heart attacks, after recovering, were almost crippled for life. But after bypass surgery, these people can now get back to complete normal activity and lead normal lives.
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) Surgery Coronary bypass surgery is a surgical operation where the blocked coronary arteries of the heart are bypassed using healthy blood vessels taken from the patient’s own body. Thus, an alternative route is provided for blood to flow freely into the heart muscles. Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgery is one of the commonest major surgical operations being performed for over 40 years.
India, the World Capital for Heart Disease Coronary Artery Disease was considered the number one killer in the Western countries. But in the last few decades, India has emerged as the world capital for heart diseases. There are more people with heart problems in India than anywhere else in the world.
Rehabilitation for Complications of Heart Disease Cardiac Cardiac rehabilitation is a medically supervised exercise and counselling program specifically designed for patients recovering from the complications of heart disease.rehabilitation is a medically supervised exercise and counselling program specifically designed for patients recovering from the complications of heart disease.
Make Your Heart Beat Longer and Stronger Reducing the risk of heart attack usually means making healthy lifestyle choices. You also may need treatment for medical conditions that raise your risk.
Why Does the Heart Stop? According to the World Health Organization (WHO), by the year 2010, heart disease will be the leading cause of death in the world. In the United States, one person dies every 30 seconds from heart disease.
Evolution of Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Cancer, in the past, has often been regarded as a death sentence. This belief stemmed from a variety of causes such as poor understanding of the causes of cancer, lack of dedicated specialist healthcare professionals, and primitive surgical, medical and radiotherapy techniques.
Lung Cancer Lung cancer is the most common cause of death in men and second most common in women. About 1.3 million individuals die due to lung cancer worldwide each year.
Asthma During Pregnancy Since asthma is a very common disease affecting millions of people, it is not strange that lots of mothers-to-be would be suffering from asthma as well.
Asthma FAQs Asthma can affect your lifestyle if it is not controlled properly. The intermittent wheeze that is produced by asthma causes some duress to the patient. On the other hand, since asthma attacks are more common during nights, the patient has disturbed sleep, leading to a reduction in his or her work output the following day
Using Preventers And Bronchodilators For Asthma Since asthma is an inflammatory disorder, we need to administer anti inflammatory drugs in the form of inhaled steroids to treat it. These are called ‘preventers’. Some time back, the treatment method prescribed was the use of bronchodilators or quick-relief providing drugs.
Measures To Control Acute Asthma Attack You are usually advised to use a peak flow meter to determine if your asthma is getting worse. If you don’t use a peak flow meter, you will know your asthma is getting worse when you need to use your bronchodilator more often, or when you experience nocturnal attacks.
Inhalers Safer For Asthma Asthma medication, preventers or bronchodilators, are safer when taken in inhaled form than as an oral tablet.
Asthma Fundamentals It is not an uncommon experience for asthmatics to wake up in the middle of the night with severe breathlessness.This is because asthma affects the airways, the tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs. Asthma causes the inside lining of the airways to become swollen or inflamed, with excessive amounts of mucus being produced.
Prevent Asthma Attacks This Way Using a bedcover to cover your mattress and bed when not in use during the daytime can help reduce dust and dust molds from accumulating inside your mattress and avoid triggering asthma.
Air Pollution Can Aggravate Asthma Studies on the effect of air pollution on asthma have come up with conclusive evidence to show that air pollution does worsen asthma, although it may not initiate the disease.
Does Asthma Affect Your Lifestyle ? Asthma can affect your lifestyle if it is not controlled properly. The intermittent wheeze produced by asthma causes some duress to the patient.
Did You Just Have An Asthma Attack? There is no known cure for asthma. But 300 million people suffer from this chronic disease that affects people in all countries regardless of the level of development and is the most chronic disease amongst children.
Breathe!! B