Kids Are Happy as No compromise on Studies While Combating Cancer.

Kids mean everything for parents and the feature of any country lies in their hands but, what if these hands only become weak if they become victim of deadly disease like cancer. In India cancer is making an easy pray to innocent children every day, without any fault of children. The most of the children who are suffering from it, belongs to low income groups so, prolong cancer treatments are not affordable to all of them. The recent statistics published by Tata Memorable Hospital (TMH) showed that, nearly 2,000 kids cancer cases registered with hospital which comprises of kids belonging to low-income families and most of these kids become frequent visitors to hospital for treatment, which can even lasts for more than six months to certain years. During this period often children need to drop out of the schools and stop further education as they become incapable of following normal routine and miss out on attendance due to hospital visits. According to TMH around 25% of cancer-affected children discontinue their treatment despite of financial help just because of disturbance in gaining education. So, to overcome such barriers TMC along with flagship of ‘ImPaCCT Foundation’ launched of new education programme.     

TATA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
Image Courtesy : dnaindia 

Understanding this need of educating these children suffering from cancer, Tata Memorial Hospital has come up with a brilliant initiative to provide education to them and help school drop outs due to treatments. This education programme has been introduce to bridge the gap of education when they are receiving treatment. One of the example of this is a Sabrin Shaikh who is currently attending chemotherapy sessions at TMH for the Burkitts Lymphoma cancer. Now her mother brought Sabrin’s brothers from village who together attends school at TMH five days a weeks which was not possible for them, even in their village. There are now six teachers which come regularly to TMH and teach children according to their ages. As younger children often given with puzzles to solve and also, encouraged to participate in artistic and creative activities. On other hand older children are learning science, mathematics, geography as well as general knowledge atleast two hours daily.

The best part of it is, when children finish their treatment and fit to return to their regular schools, a certificate has been provided to them so that, their entire year should not be missed. Also, the fact we all need to appreciate is, the programme is driven by NGOs, companies and corporates through the Corporate Social Responsibility Arm. In the end I would like to appreciate such efforts which make us belive humanity still exists withing us and also, would like to give my best wishes to TMH and ImPaCCT foundation for bringing some smile on the face of children and ultimately wining hearts of million.

Lowering Your Blood Pressure will, Prevent your Risk of Diabetes.

You know the ways to control blood pressure levels but, did you aware that, controlling blood pressure can prevent you from the risk of diabetes, heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, etc. It has been observed that, very often diabetes or pre-diabetes people focus more on controlling their blood sugar levels and forget about maintaining blood pressure and cholesterol levels. This, gave rise to series of other health problems as abnormal levels of either of it, may be glucose, blood pressure or cholesterol is linked to other complications. There are many studies or research conveying relation between diabetes and obesity as one in three diabetes patients are obese but, very less is known about the connection between high blood pressure and diabetes. But, now this fact will no longer be the same as now new research conducted suggest the connection between the two. 

Hypertension & Diabetes
Image Courtesy : dlife 

Did you know that, nearly one million die each year due to diabetes in India. Now let us see how diabetes and hypertension or high blood pressure and diabetes is interlinked to each other. Diabetes can affect arteries by blocking circulation of blood due to atherosclerosis, which further lead to increase in blood pressure. This if not detected on the time or not treated effectively then, it can induce permanent damage to blood vessels, heart attack, stroke or even kidney failure. Hence, diagnosis of diabetes from reputed diagnostic centre with out delay is necessary in order to restrict it further developing into severe complications. As compare to normal people, the individuals suffering from high blood pressure are more prone to get coronary artery disease, strokes, congestive heart failure, or peripheral vascular disease. 

The another reason why blood pressure patients acquire prevention from diabetes is due to, the medication they take for the hypertension. As most commonly used drugs to blood pressure are angiotensin receptor blockers(ARBs), beta-blockers or angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, all of these suppress activity of angiotensin which is responsible for tightening of blood vessels and blood pressure rise. Taking any one of these drugs at bedtime, rather than in the morning, reduced the risk of Type 2 diabetes by between 61% and 69%. 

Now, we will see how hypertension can cause heart disease along with diabetes. It has been observed that, blood vessels that are damage or under immense stress due to high blood pressure and further weakened by diabetes invite heart disease or stroke. Apert from this, it can also contribute to secondary complications of diabetes which include problems with nerves, extremities especially legs, eyes and even sexual behavior. Also, according to the recent research survey individual’s chances of death decreases by around 13% for each 10 mm drop in systolic (upper limit). Hence, control blood pressure for acquiring diabetes prevention. 

Everyone has secretes, is diabetes one of them? Don’t Fear Diabetes.

You can’t judge a person by just looking at him, like you can not decide whether the person is diabetic or not. In short many people try to hide their reality and try to pretend what they want to be like without realizing that, they are faking it. I feel they do this, because they do not want to show others their weakness. The fear of  misusing or taking advantage of their weak points by others build up the thoughts of insecurity in the mind which ends up into not revealing certain things. The diabetes can be one of it, at first you don’t know that you can be victim of it but, when you are diagnosed with this condition, the fear of developing complications which can affect normal way of living can be really troublesome. Hence, at first whenever comes to know about it, a diabetic patient suffers trauma and is often into immense state of shock.   

Diabetes Secret
 Image Courtesy : secretclosetmiami 

Once it has been confirmed that, now for rest of life have to deal with it’s control and complications. The mental disturbance can affect the life of individual in many aspect may be it is about career, job or about relations, bonds. It has been observed that people with diabetes often tend to find themself depressed and different from the others due to imposing of so many restrictions in order to control the diabetes. This leads to frustration so, to avoid this people often try to hide the fact that they are diabetic. 

At first biggest fear of diabetes was facing needles and syringes for blood test from pathology lab repeatedly to monitor blood glucose levels but, now due to advancements in the technology like glucometer, it has became a history so, successfully we have manage to overcome that fear. Still diabetic patients need to take insulin injection if the blood glucose levels went beyond the permissible limits. Fortunately, this does not happen repetitively. The another fear of the diabetes is following medication, as it may have side effects. So, many people who are already scared to take medicines avoids revealing that, they are suffering from such condition. Apart from it the biggest reason why people do not confront to others about their disease is because they do not want to be a financial burden on the family. The treatment and medication of it is very much expensive and many low income or lower middle class families can not afford it, creating the biggest fear in victim’s mind. All these also, has tremendous negative impact on mental as well as physical health of diabetic who’s health is already depriving due to diabetes.    

The fear has two meaning, Forget Everything And Run or Face Everything And Rise, the choice is in your hand, you hide it and put your self more into risk of the diabetes or determine yourself to find out new solutions by discussing openly with experts. 

Diwali : Delicious Dishes & a fight with Diabetes

Diwali is a Hindu festival popular in parts of south Asia especially celebrated with the lightening diyas or lanterns in front of houses, bursting of fireworks, decorating with colourful lights garlands, buying gold ornaments and sharing sweets, chocolates, etc. Therefore, this is mainly popular among the children. This festival signifies the victory of good over evil, hope over despair, knowledge over illiteracy, and love over hatred. The another most important tradition of making festival dishes especially sweets such as laddoo, barfi, shankarpali, gulabjamuns, sonpapadi, rasgulla and basundi, etc. During this festival season often people meet over lunch to enjoy it altogether all the delicious dishes keeping their diet aside.

Diwali Sweets 

All the sweets are made up of sugar which is an enemy of the diabetic patients hence, proper control over diet happens to be crucial in maintaining of the blood glucose levels. For diabetics it become difficult to refuse when they were offered sweets unknowingly. Staying away from so their cravings for long time and watching others enjoying the same, leads to urge of eating them. Controlling this temptation to eat can even cause depression and irritability. Many times when control is lost then people end up eating lot of high calories, fat and sugar containing food items. This can induce some health problems so, most of the healthcare professionals suggest to undergo blood testing to check blood sugar levels. It is important to check the levels before and after the festival season. If the levels are slightly higher then, can be control by means of exercise and diabetic diet. Hence, calculation of the calories per day is important which will be helpful in celebrating this festival with all the enthusiasm. Following are the few tips on celebrating Diwali with out inviting the risk of diabetes. 

Use artificial sweeteners : This is the best option to enjoy every moment of the festival and if sweets are made using artificial sweeteners then, any one can have it without hesitation. 

Use low fat milk : By using low fat milk to make sweets like basundi, can achieve both the purpose of enjoyment of the taste and keeping control over sugar intake. 

Eat more baked food : Generally, during the festival time we often have heavy meals, so eating baked food is really healthy and can easily be digested as it does not contain excess of fats. 

Don’t forgot to try out some moves : Dancing is the best therapy which anyone can choose this season as one can witness lots of Diwali parties going on many places. This will definitely help you to burn few calories. 

Include non-starchy vegetables in your diet : This option is always beneficial for the health, not only during the festive season but for the entire life. These vegetables contain fibers which can help in digestion. 

Strictly avoid alcohol : You celebrate each and every moment of Diwali but, don’t make drinking alcohol a part of it. This can lead to a destruction in your celebration as there are high chances of getting carried away and spoiling not just your’s but every ones Diwali. 

Cook with Olive oil : The Olive oil contains monounsaturated fatty acids which are actually considered as a healthy dietary fat. Hence, use olive oil for cooking to keep up your wellness. 

Let’s this Diwali fulfill your home with healthy living and God’s blessings. 

Quench the thirst for fitness : 5 Health Risks To Watch Out For This Diwali :

Quench the thirst for fitness :

 5 Health Risks To Watch Out For This Diwali : The festival of joy, lights and firecrackers brings in all the goodness with it but, sadly something good or auspicious is often followe...

5 Health Risks To Watch Out For This Diwali :

The festival of joy, lights and firecrackers brings in all the goodness with it but, sadly something good or auspicious is often followed by a bad omen. So, one must be aware of what can be the consequences of ignoring certain things that can put our health to risk and develop diseased condition. Diwali, the festival of lights which is loved by everyone in India is celebrated on large scale with all traditions continued for five consecutive days.

 

But, nowadays Diwali celebration trends have been changed as, the noise of laughter has gone missing into loud noises of crackers, people give more emphasis on firecrackers and with this, there is a tremendous growth in firecracker’s market with new variety arriving every year containing more and more hazardous substances, which can impact especially on our health. Along with the fireworks comes the issue of noise, air and water pollution. Today, bursting crackers has become a fashion, where people do not enjoy them instead they will use it just to follow trend or for showing off. This new fashion is just not adding ill effects on environment but also adding burden on our health. Hence, let’s have a look at health risks you may become a victim of :

1. Emergence of Respiratory Problems : This is observed every year in most of the people who were exposed to high levels of the carbon monoxide and sulfur released from the bursting of fireworks. The most common respiratory problems include pulmonary emphysema and shortness of breath. Along with that it causes cough, cold and respiratory allergies. In worst cases it can also cause, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sinusitis, etc.

 

2. Chances of Asthma Attack : It has been confirmed from doctors, that number of asthma patients in this festival are more than usual. Means increase in occurrence of Asthma attacks is becoming a serious problem which are very likely to ignore.

 

 

3. Risk of Developing Skin Allergies : After the explosion of the fireworks, the dust remains in the air for long and if we come in contact with it then, chances of developing skin rashes, allergies due to presence of toxic chemicals and heavy metals in it.

4. High Probability of Heart Health Hazard : Loud noise can indirectly put stress on your heart health, especially cardiac patients, old aged people, those who have hypertension problem are on higher risk for myocardial infarctions. Hence, it is advisable to take extra care of your heart by testing for cardiac risk markers from authorised diagnostic labs. So, that you will be assured about your heart’s good health.

 

5. May Cause Mental Distress : High decibel levels of cracker’s sounds interferes with the functioning of the brain and even can lead to extreme or hyper reactions, and can result into behavioral changes. This also causes phycological irritability and restlessness in patients who are already suffering from any mental illness or imbalance.   

 

As thoroughly we desire to celebrate Diwali, we must pay heed to the health concerns and safety of our family. 

 

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Work stress : How They Affect Each Other.

This blog post is specially for people who have rheumatoid arthritis or would like to help their family members, friends to deal with it. The focus of this post will be inclined towards managing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at work place which will comprise of development and precautionary management measures. Now let us start with, what is rheumatoid arthritis, it is a typical arthritic condition where, abnormality in immune system is observed. It is not just wear and tear of the joints or cartilage but it is a systemic disease. This disease affects more than one joint causing stiffness, pain, swelling and also lead to fatigue, occasional fevers and energy loss. The major drawback of this disease is, lack of exact potential diagnosis on time, still nowadays, there are many tests available in the most of accredited diagnostic labs to detect rheumatoid factor or other factors responsible for the progression of this disease. 

Work stress & RA

The connection between rheumatoid arthritis and work stress is vice-versa as according to recent survey people with rheumatoid arthritis who need to take important work related decisions are often found to be at higher risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. On the other hand stress can make rheumatoid arthritis worse in the number of ways. As stress, inflammation, immune system abnormalities, and rheumatoid arthritis are all closely inter-related. Managing a chronic condition like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is stressful enough but dealing with stress at work can really add to one of our daily challenges. The symptoms such as swollen and stiff joints, pain, inflammation, limited hand and leg movements, nausea, loss of focus, all these can cause stress at work. Also, to add on to it many arthritic people face discrimination at work because they may seem weaker than any one. For these reasons stress management plays crucial part in taking care of your arthritis. Learning stress management or how to cope with stress in a positive way is a skill needs to be practiced.

One of the most common diseases which is observed in many RA patients that they fear to disclose their condition at work as they feel disheartened due to different treatment which they will receive. But, in reality it is very important to share if you are suffering from arthritis because you may get few special facilities to certain work accommodations such as flexible working hours, easy access to rest rooms, etc. So, if you are suffering from RA do not hesitate to tell someone and ask for help but if you don’t then you will be responsible for building up of stress, making your condition even worst. Hence, feel free to talk about your RA first. 

Have you Heard of Rheumatic Heart Disease and Rheumatic Fever ?

Rheumatic heart disease(RHD) is a condition or illness which left untreated for longer time then, can cause permanent heart damage. This disease is observed in many countries of world, especially developing countries where poverty is widespread, as the most common acquired heart disease in children. Basically rheumatic fever causes inflammation of connective tissues of body especially, those of the heart, joints,brain or skin. Rheumatic fever is caused by a preceding group A streptococcal infection. This infection usually occurs in children between the age group of 5 to 15 years. It has been proved that, 60% of people with rheumatic disease can develop subsequent heart disease. 

Symptoms of RHD : 

If the child is suffering from RHD then, there must be possibility that he or she have symptoms related to aortic or mitral valve abnormalities. The symptoms include chest pain, heart palpitations, excessive fatigue, shortness of breath, swollen ankles, burning sensation in chest, swollen wrists, etc. 

Rheumatic Heart Disease 

Rheumatic Heart Disease Diagnosis: 

When it comes to diagnosis of this condition, your doctor will check for the any possibility of strep infections or any recent occur-ance of sore throat and even doctor can often hear a heart murmur through stethoscope while physical examination. During the exam, your child’s doctor will look for signs of inflammation in your child’s joints.

The doctor will ask for details about your child’s symptoms, their health history and your family health history. Your doctor may order a throat culture or a blood test to check for strep throat or signs of a recent strep infection, as well as performing other blood tests from pathology labs in India.

Further to check for normal functioning of heart and find information about heart doctor can also suggest exams which includes X-ray chest,echocardiogram and electrocardiogram or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) of the heart. Known as an ECG or EKG, is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart to show the rate and rhythm. 

Treatment : 

Primary prevention of acute rheumatic fever (the prevention of initial attack) is achieved by treatment of acute throat infections caused by group A streptococcus. This is achieved by up to 10 days of an oral antibiotic (usually penicillin) or a single intramuscular penicillin injection. And secondary involves regular administration of antibiotics, and has to be continued for many years.

Quench the thirst for fitness : Top 5 Reasons You Should Do CRP Test To Save Your ...

Quench the thirst for fitness : Top 5 Reasons You Should Do CRP Test To Save Your ...: When you get up early morning to find body swelling that persist for longer time, immediately you visit a doctor. After examining you co...

Top 5 Reasons You Should Do CRP Test To Save Your Life.

When you get up early morning to find body swelling that persist for longer time, immediately you visit a doctor. After examining you completely GP will tell you to under go CRP test or C-reactive protein testas preventive health check up for inflammation, which can literally save your life because, C-reactive protein (CRP) is a substance produced by the liver in response to inflammation. C-reactive protein is also called high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, which may be shortened to HS-CRP, US-CRP, or simply CRP. The level of C-reactive protein (CRP), which can be measured in your blood, increases when there's inflammation in your body. C-Reactive Protein test measures the concentration of a special type of protein produced in the liver from blood serum. This protein is present particularly during period of acute inflammation or infection. In the body, CRP interacts with the complement system, an immunologic defense mechanism. Apart from this Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and plasma viscosity (PV) are blood tests that detect inflammation. These are useful tests to help diagnose and monitor the activity of certain diseases, most probably are included under complete health check up packages.

Your doctor may suggest C-reactive protein test for the treatment of infections or for other medical conditions like chronic inflammatory disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus,  risk of heart disease, trauma, burns, atherosclerosis as well as certain types of cancers. In one clinical study of 18,000 healthy adults, a high level of CRP was associated with a risk of heart attack three times higher than average. In persons with atherosclerosis the burden of plaques in the body can be proportional to the degree of CRP elevation. A high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) test, which is more sensitive than a standard test, also can be used to evaluate your risk of developing coronary artery disease, a condition in which the arteries of your heart are narrowed. Coronary artery disease can eventually lead to a heart attack. 

When CRP in the blood is increasing, suggesting the presence of inflammation but it will not able to identify its location or the condition causing it. This test can be used to determine the efficiency of the treatment, for example in the person suffering from the inflammation due to bacterial infection initially the CRP level is elevated and as the treatment will progress then it will drop, this indicates that the inflammation is subsiding due to appropriate treatment.

Administering the Test from best pathology labs in India :

The best part of this test is no special preparation needed as you can follow your normal routine on the day of the test. Also, you do not have to go anywhere as BCT i.e. Blood collection technician will visit your home to draw blood from a vein. 

First, the skin over the vein will be cleaned with antiseptic. Next, the nurse or health practitioner will wrap an elastic band around your arm, causing your veins to bulge out slightly. Then, the practitioner will insert a small needle into the vein and collect your blood in a sterile vial.

Once your blood sample has been collected, the elastic band will be removed and you’ll be asked to apply pressure to the puncture site with gauze. Tape or a bandage may be used to hold the gauze in place.

What is normal range of CRP ? & What are Abnormal results?

C-reactive protein is measured in milligrams of CRP per liter of blood (mg/L). Optimal CRP levels for everyone to strive for are under 0.55 mg/L in men and under 1.0 mg/L in women. With the hs-CRP test, a result of lower than 1.0 mg/L is associated with a low risk of developing cardiovascular disease; average risk of developing cardiovascular disease is associated with a level between 1.0 and 3.0 mg/L; and high risk for cardiovascular disease is linked to hs-CRP above 3.0 mg/L.

An especially high CRP reading (greater than 10 mg/L) may indicate:

• an infection
•  an arthritis flare-up
• inflammatory bowel disease
• tuberculosis
• lupus or other connective tissue/immune disease
• cancer
• Pneumonia

Remember that this test does NOT provide a complete picture of your risk for cardiovascular disease. Your doctor may order a cholesterol test, a stress test, or a coronary angiogram to further pinpoint your risk for coronary artery disease.

Anti-biotics Consumption & risk of type two diabetes.

A person develops diabetes, which is characterized by high blood sugar levels, when the individual cannot produce enough of the hormone insulin or insulin does not work properly to clear sugar from the bloodstream. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of the condition, accounting for around 90-95% of all cases. It occurs when the body is unable to use the hormone insulin effectively, causing abnormal blood glucose levels which can be detected by under going tests from reputed and well recognised diagnostic lab. It has been found that greater the number of antibiotic prescriptions an individual has each year, the higher their risk for type 2 diabetes. This is according to a new study by researchers co-author Dr. Kristian Hallundbæk Mikkelsen, of Gentofte Hospital in Denmark, and colleagues publish their findings in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

The researchers identified a greater number of antibiotic prescriptions among individuals with type 2 diabetes, at 0.8 per year, compared with 0.5 antibiotic prescriptions annually for those without type 2 diabetes. According to research conducted  revealed that prior exposure to antibiotics was associated with a 53% increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The finding could mean that antibiotics play a direct causal role in type 2 diabetes or that people with as-yet-undiagnosed diabetes may have a greater risk for infection and therefore are more likely to use antibiotics. These experts foud out from their study that individuals who filled more prescriptions for antibiotics were at greater risk for type 2 diabetes diagnosis. The overexposure is seen after, as well as 15 years, before the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.

Already microbiologists insists not to use antibiotic frequently and also doctors are also reluctant to prescribe them unless and until it is essential. This is because over use of an antibiotic can cause resistance against it. So, that new antibiotic can be given but the another problem is research and development of the new antibiotics take lot of time. Also, the drugs also kill off some of the ‘good’ bacteria in the gut, which are known to influence digestion and metabolism. 

In regard to this paper published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Professor Jodi Lindsay of St George’s University of London said: “This paper adds to the growing evidence that antibiotic usage is linked to type 2 diabetes”."Diabetes is one of the greatest challenges facing modern health care, with a globally increasing incidence" he said. "Further investigation into long-term effect of antibiotic use on sugar metabolism and gut bacteria composition could reveal valuable answers about how to address this public health crisis. 

6 illnesses linked to Vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin D is important for a good overall health and plays a vital role to make sure that our muscles, heart, lungs and brain function normally and properly. Our body has capacity to make its own vitamin D from sunlight. But still if you lack then,one can also get vitamin D from supplements, and a very small amount comes from consumption of some fish, fish liver oils, egg yolks and in fortified dairy, cereals and grain products. Keeping yourself recharged with ample of vitamin can aid prevention of Type 2 diabetes and hypertension also, monitoring of vitamin D levels on routine basis through preventive health check up is important indicator for prevention as well as diagnosis of diabetes.

Following are the diseases and illness linked to vitamin D deficiency : 

Osteoporosis : 

Vitamin D is much needed in order to help the body in absorption of calcium and phosphate from food we ate. These two minerals are really important to keep bones and teeth healthy. But the major worry is, just a mild to moderate vitamin D deficiency, can cause bone pain and osteoporosis, which is a weakening of the bones and lowering of bone density that makes them more likely to break or fracture.

Cancer : 

It was not believed that Vitamin D deficiency may be linked to cancer till, a certain study indicated that more than 75% of people with a variety of cancers have found out with low levels of vitamin D, and the lowest levels are associated with more advanced cancers. However still additional research is needed to find out exact relation between higher vitamin D levels and lower cancer incidence or death rates. Whatever type of cancer it is breast, prostate, cervical, colorectal, esophageal, gastric, endometrial, ovarian, pancreatic, or renal, all types are vulnerable to the vitamin D deficient people. 

Erectile dysfunction :

The most common sexual problem among men can be caused by other health conditions such as diabetes and prostate cancer, but a study published last year in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found men with severe cases of erectile dysfunction had much lower levels of vitamin D than those with mild cases. ED can emerged from other health conditions like diabetes, prostate cancer, and high blood pressure.

Rheumatoid arthritis : 

Low vitamin D may play an important role in causing rheumatoid arthritis. It has been found that women who get more vitamin D are less likely to get rheumatoid arthritis. Other way round people who already have rheumatoid arthritis, and those are with low vitamin D levels tend to have more severe symptoms. 

Dementia : 

Last year, a study published in the journal of Neurology found that the risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, was doubled for older adults with a vitamin D deficiency.

Scientist found a definite association and believe the so-called ‘sunshine vitamin’ might help to clear plaques in the brain linked to dementia. Dementia is a decline in thinking, behavior, and memory that negatively affects daily life. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, accounting for as many as 80 percent of dementia cases, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. 

These are most hazardous and harmful diseases of Vitamin D deficiency. Hence, it is crucial to always maintain Vitamin D levels in order to stay healthy and away from these disease illness.

Unpredictable Symptoms of Diabetes :

Apart from known symptoms of diabetes like increase in trust, hunger and urination, weight loss, fatigue, skin problems, Tingling hands, slow healing sores, yeast infections, fatigue and irritability, etc. There are few symptoms of diabetes which are lesser know and found frequently in people suffering from diabetes. These are as follows :

Unpleasant skin irritations : The dark velvety patches observed on back neck, elbows or knuckles, are often an early warning sign indicating high blood sugars. "High insulin levels promote the growth of skin cells, and melanin, a pigment in these cells, makes the patches dark. 

Sudden no need of specs : Suddenly you do not need to wear your glasses can be not such a good sign. It has been known that blurred vision is often associated with diabetes but, actually the symptom is vision change which can be for better or worse. 

Dry and itchy skin : Another effect on skin is dryness and itchiness of the it, caused due to problems in circulation. Some of my newly diagnosed diabetes patients mention they're itchy on their extremities the hands, lower legs, and feet, so it's something doctors should consider in conjunction with other symptoms.

Lowering of your hearing capacity : Many times it can happen that you need to increase TVs volume as unable to hear properly, and you can not hear what people are taking so, need to ask them repeatedly while conversing. One study by the National Institute of Health suggested hearing loss could be an early warning sign of diabetes: People with higher than normal blood sugar who didn't yet meet the criteria for diabetes were 30% more likely to have hearing damage than those with healthy glucose levels.

Loud Snoring : The another surprising symptom for the diabetes can be snoring intensively making loud noise. According to a recent survey it was found that, about half of type 2 diabetes have sleep disordered breathing. Hence, if you are suspecting the same condition of snoring and daytime sleepiness then, it is good bet to monitor your blood sugar levels with preventive health check up. A study conducted showed that 23% of patients diagnosed with mild or moderate obstructive sleep apnea, a common sleep disorder, went on to develop diabetes within 5½ years. The connection isn't completely understood, but there's one important link between the two: Patients with sleep-disordered breathing tend to release stress hormones during sleep, which can raise blood sugar levels.

 Yeast Infections : In diabetes the immunity gets suppressed Diabetes is considered an immunosuppressed state,. That means heightened susceptibility to a variety of infections, although the most common are yeast (candida) and other fungal infections, she says. Fungi and bacteria both thrive in sugar-rich environments. Women, in particular, need to watch out for vaginal candida infections. 

Quench the thirst for fitness : To Lay Foundation of your Bone Health, Increase yo...

Quench the thirst for fitness : To Lay Foundation of your Bone Health, Increase yo...: You must be aware of the fact that there are 206 normal bones in complete human skeleton. Bones play crucial role in providing framework a...

To Lay Foundation of your Bone Health, Increase your Calcium Intake!

You must be aware of the fact that there are 206 normal bones in complete human skeleton. Bones play crucial role in providing framework and structure to body, protecting most of the organs, anchoring our body muscles and last but not the least storing calcium for growth and development. If you want to improve your bone density and strength in short to increase bone life one needs to take precautionary measures during childhood and adolescence by balancing calcium intake by drinking ample of milk or with the help of calcium source containing food. But, if you were not aware of this and now you have realized the importance of the sufficient calcium intake to body, still you can take few simple yet significant steps in adulthood to protect your bones health by keeping track of your calcium levels with the help of preventive health services specially dedicated for the checking of calcium concentration.

Calcium is a vital mineral that our body uses to stabilize blood pressure and build strong bones and teeth. As well as this is also needed for the muscle contractions and relaxation, nerve stimuli and hormonal activity, and controlling blood pressure. It is advisable that everyone should intake the recommended amount of calcium daily with out fail through the food they eat or, and if necessary, by consuming calcium supplements. This is because if you don’t get enough calcium, you increase the risk of developing diseases such as osteoporosis and calcium deficiency disease, also known as hypocalcemia. 

As most of us know that we lose bone as we age. If we ignore our health as we grow older then, bone health related issues rises, one of them can be osteoporosis in which bones becomes so weak that they can break down easily causing fractures which inturn is the leading cause of the disability. But the good thing about it is osteoporosis is not a natural part of aging and there’s a lot one can do to improve bone’s health and it’s never too late to start. Actually bones are continuously changing every time old bone is broken, the new bone is made. At young age the bone formation is much faster as compare to old age. Around age of the 30 bone mass is highest making bones stronger but after this age bone remodeling continues still you loose some bone mass.

Now the question remains how to improve bone health by increasing your calcium intake. There is no single answer to this, actually there are number of ways to achieve this such as consuming food which is calcium enriched like orange juice, dairy products, green leafy vegetables, sea food, nuts and dried beans etc. Another way to by increasing exposure to sunlight ultimately increasing vitamin D levels in body indirectly improving calcium adsorption. Also, avoiding alcohol consumption because it can interfere with the body's ability to absorb calcium. One can monitor the blood calcium levels to check for the over all calcium balance in the body. This can be done by undergoing a simple blood test form authorized diagnostic centres in India. Still if you are worried and facing any problems about the bone health, do not hesitate to consult a doctor and he/she can can recommend for a bone density tests. The results will help your doctor gauge your bone density and determine your rate of bone loss. By evaluating this information and your risk factors, your doctor can assess whether you might be a candidate for medication to help slow bone loss.

MEN’S Wellness : Stay Healthy & Feel manly!

It seems that Woman are more prone to face health related issues Hence, more attention has been given towards wellness of the women’s Health this often leads to ignorance towards the men’s health. Special care is taken of woman when she becomes mother, lot of attention is given on her diet, fitness, and extra precautions are taken during this time and at same time all these responsibilities are fulfilled by men. This inturn results in men not giving proper attention towards their own health.In reality men need to pay more attention towards their health especially preventive healthcare for themselves. Compared to women, as men are more prone to

• Smoke and drink
• Make unhealthy or risky choices
• Put off regular checkups and medical care 

Until recently there has been too little interest, knowledge, or understanding of the term “men’s health.” The good news is that now you can start taking better care of your health. There are also health conditions that only affect men, such as prostate cancer and low testosterone which are related to secondary sexual development of the men. Nobody really understands that most of the major health risks faced by men which includes colon cancer or heart disease, these can be prevented and treated with early diagnosis. Also, there in lack of awareness about the preventive health check up packages as no one cares about doing routine testing for this own health, unless and until he is suffering from any disease condition. Screening tests can find diseases early, when they are easier to treat.
But now I think after reading this not just men but the whole society will take step forward to give equal importance to the men’s health. It’s not too late to start healthier habits. Make eating healthy and getting active part of your daily routine. A healthy diet and regular physical activity can help lower your:

• Blood pressure
• Blood sugar
• Cholesterol Weight

One can lower your risk of serious health problems like type 2 diabetes and heart disease by keeping these numbers down. It is advisable to get medical care to help you stay healthy. See a doctor for regular checkups even if you feel fine. This is important because some diseases don’t have symptoms at first. Plus, seeing a doctor will give you a chance to learn more about your health and you also, can spread awareness about importance of the preventive healthcare for the men.

10 COMMON THINGS TO KNOW, TO WHICH YOU CAN BE ALLERGIC

Allergy can be termed as an exaggerated response of the immune system, often to common substances such as foods or pollen. Therefore people who have allergies often are sensitive to more than one thing. The substances which causes allergies are called as Allergens which  are foreign to the body. Sometimes many individuals outgrow allergies over time, allergies can also develop at any age, including during adulthood. There are many types of allergies such as food allergies, seasonal allergies, pet allergies, etc. In most of the cases environment plays a crucial role in allergy development, if a person has a family history of allergy then, there is a greater risk of developing allergic conditions. 
Allergies can ultimately cause a variety of symptoms which includes a runny nose, sneezing, itching, rashes, swelling, or asthma, etc. Allergies can be from minor to severe. A severe reaction that can be life-threatening is called as Anaphylaxis. Doctors and medical practitioners use skin and blood tests from Diagnostic Centre to check for allergies. Treatments mostly include medicines, allergy shots, and strictly avoiding all those substances that cause the allergic reactions.

Following are the most common substances for which one can develop allergies 

Milk Allergy : This is kind of the commonly found allergy for which reactions can be immediate wheezing, vomiting, and hives.
Egg Allergy : Especially allergies to egg whites are most commonly found in children than in adults and also, reactions range from mild to severe.
Chocolate : Yes, in very few cases, individuals are actually allergic to chocolate. This is common in people who are already suffering from allergy to other food items such as milk, nuts and eggs.
Perfumes and Fragrances: Unwanted Scents : This has been observed specially in teenagers. Perfume fragrances are one of the most common reason of contact allergies in adults, and this type of allergy is on the rise.
Beauty Products and Cosmetics : cosmetics allergic reactions can be induced by fragrance allergies, but there is possibility that it can also be caused by preservatives used in cosmetics. Skin irritation is a frequent problem at the site of contact with cosmetics and may be experienced by anyone, but allergic reactions such as redness, swelling, and hives tend to occur in people who are allergic to specific ingredients, like formaldehyde,thimerosal,etc. Another surprising allergen is wet nail polish, the most common cause of eyelid dermatitis.
Your Shoes: Leather Allergy : If you get a poison rash on your feet after wearing leather shoes, there can be possibility for allergic to chemicals used in the leather tanning process.
Household Solvents and Adhesives : Household products that may cause skin allergies include solvents and adhesives. Cyanoacrylate, a common household adhesive found in superglues, can cause an allergic reaction.
Bed shits : Allergy due to dust mites which are microscopic critters feeding on the dead skin of humans. Their faces contains enzymes which can produce itching, sneezing, running nose and watery eyes. 
Plants at Home : Mold is common household allergen. It can grow on the leaves or over watered soil, releasing mold spores into air. Inhaling these mold spores can lead to trouble breathing, coughing and eye irritations.
Seasonal Temperature Fluctuation : Exposure of the skin to higher cold temperature causes redness, swelling and itching, etc. 
To Know more visit Preventive Health Care Lab and Diagnostic Centre - Thyrocare

Thrombocytopenia : Do you have enough platelets in your blood?

When some one is having abnormally low levels of the platelets than the normal range then, it is called as thrombocytopenia. If you wondering why this name then, “thrombocytes” means platelets and “penia” means lack of something and if you put this terms together you will find your answer. When your blood has very few platelets, then mild to serious bleeding can occur. Now you must be guessing what are platelets?
Platelets are colourless blood cells which plays important role in clotting in turn preventing excessive blood loss by covering holes in the blood vessels. Bleeding can occur inside the body (internal bleeding) or underneath the skin or from the surface of the skin (external bleeding). The normal range of the blood platelet count is 1,50,000 to 4,50,000 per microliter. This platelet count can be carried out from an authentic diagnostic centre near by you. Thrombocytopenia can occur alone or can be develop as a complication of another disease, like cancer or a viral infection.

Why thrombocytopenia can occur?

• Platelet synthesis occurs in the bone marrow and sometimes it fails to produce ample amount of the platelets require by the body. 
• The bone marrow makes enough platelets, but the body destroys them(mostly by body’s immune system) or uses them up.
• Many platelets remain in the spleen. The spleen is an organ that normally stores about one-third of the body's platelets. It also helps your body fight infection and remove unwanted cell material.
• A combination of any of the above factors. 

Signs and Symptoms :

• Bleeding from nose or gums
• Severe Headaches
• Dizziness
• Pain in body joins
• Blood in the vomit
• Unexpected bruising
• Heavy bleeding during menstrual cycle
• Blood in stools and urine.

Diagnosis :

This is diagnosed with a simple blood test called a platelet count, which counts the number of platelets in a sample of blood also, doctor may ask for the medical history. If suspected further a doctor can ask you for complete blood count and peripheral blood smear.

Preventions and Management : 

• Excessive alcohol consumption is strictly avoided.
• Avoid taking drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen which are know to destroy platelets.
• Do not take any muscular injection when diagnosed with thrombocytopenia.
• Thrombocytopenia can be treated by curing underline disorder that cause low platelet count and if necessary platelet transfusion can be performed if required.

People whose platelet counts reduces when receiving chemotherapy can switch to a lower dose or wait longer between chemotherapy cycles. Also, some patients receiving chemotherapy may be given a drug called oprelvekin (Neumega) which helps to prevent severe thrombocytopenia. Because there is risk of bleeding, your doctor may delay any cancer surgery until your platelet counts are within normal range.

Hence, it is seen that regular preventive health check up can be a major contributor to restraining thrombocytopenia as this will help to regularly monitor blood platelets count.

Also, it will be a deciding step in timely diagnosis and pursuing proper treatment.   

Healthcare in India : An overview about healthcare System India

Preventive healthcare in India are still in the early stage and it has huge burden and strain because of Indian population growing at exponential rate. Health care sector in India is majorly responsibility of the central, state and local government. The center government is responsible for providing health services in the union territories without a legislature. Also, it has to take some important decisions regarding to defining and developing nation standards, monitoring application of rules and regulations, coordinating with state governments, linking of them with funding agency, bringing sponsors. Etc.

The health care in India includes public and private hospitals as well as specialized clinics. One of he biggest healthcare challenge faced by PM Narendra Modi and his team today includes reducing burden on healthcare system. “Preventive healthcare is important. The consciousness and facilities that are required for that can be improved”: PM. Also,
"Tele-medicine enables expert opinion even for people living far away. We need to integrate this and give good facilities to people," PM Modi said. Health care has emerged as one of the largest service sectors in India providing preventive healthcare packages and further developing faster. But, these are some facts about Indian healthcare industry total expenditure on health is 5.2 % of GDP.

The need for preventive healthcare versus curative healthcare is partly attributed to the changes in the corporate environment and lifestyle in India. In recent times with greater globalization and urbanization, corporate world has been growing rapidly there is a greater amount of stress in companies leading to adverse lifestyle choices and work related stress. Hence, regular monitoring of health by routine tests is necessary which can be done with the help of the diagnostic centre which is also a part of health care system.