Make life safe- preserve stem cell
Medical science seems to progress at such a pace that sometimes, it becomes really hard to believe of the latest techniques. One such method is stem cell banking. What a fabulous method to increase longevity and the quality of life. Totally astonishing!
As all of us know that our body develops from a single cell. That single cell has the potential to give rise to any of the different organs like eyes, bone marrow or liver or kidneys. During the embryonic stage, several such cells are present which have not yet diversified for any organs. Such embryonic cells which have the potential to develop into any organ with proper stimulus are known as the stem cells. Several such cells are present in the blood of umbilical cord which connects the mother to the embryo. Usually the umbilical cord is cut and discarded at the time of child birth. The beauty of the thing is that if such cells are preserved at extremely low temperature (cryopreservation), they can be kept alive for infinite time span. Now, medical scientists have got the way to give the cells, proper stimulus and make them develop in the desired fashion. This gives an insight into the treatment of several serious diseases like cancer, thalassemia, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, heart diseases etc. Time seems no far when the scientists could develop a kidney or cornea from his stem cell, if the patient requires transplant. Now stem cell banks are available at all the major cities of India and provides stem cell cryopreservation facility at very nominal cost. Seeing the growth in medical science and the diverse application of stem cell preservation, one should definitely decide to gift their child an additional life which he could utilize, when he finds it short in future.
Stem cell treatments
Give your child an additional life,
Preserve stem cell!!
Breast Cancer —early detection is the key
Breast cancer Awareness!
We all know that “Cancer” is a devastating disease which not only causes immense suffering to the patients and their relatives but also burdens the healthcare system. Tumor that has developed from the cells of the breast is known as Breast Cancer. Cancer starts when the cells begin to multiply in a out of control fashion and it can start anywhere in the body. Cancer can either be localized (benign) or metastatic (spread to distant sites). The process, by which the primary tumor spreads to distant location, is known as metastasis. We should know that nobody dies of breast cancer as long as it is localized but it becomes lethal only when it has spread to the distant organs of the body. At present the ability to treat localized cancers has improved appreciably but metastatic disease continues to be a therapeutic challenge. Some of the risk factors of breast cancer are being a woman, being older than 50 years of age, having a family history of the disease, taking hormonal replacement therapy and having mutation in BRCA 1 and 2 genes.To spread awareness about it we celebrate October as a breast cancer awareness month.
If breast cancer is found and treated early, the five-year survival rate for the disease is 98 percent. Early detection is the best protection which can be achieved through “screening”. Symptoms of breast cancer include change in skin color/texture, change in shape or size of the breast, discharge from the nipple and/ or lump or thickening in the breast. Screening can be best achieved either by a clinical breast exam or a mammogram which is the X-ray of the breast and can detect breast cancer two to three years before a lump is felt.
Know the risk factors for breast- cancer
Be aware of changes in the breast
Get screened because early detection is the best protection!!!
Cataract and Its Treatment
Cataract and Cataract-Surgery
Cataract-surgery is the most common eye surgery conducted worldwide. As cataract is bound to develop with age, this becomes a common cause of vision impairment among senior citizens.
Our eye lenses are made up of protein. As the age progresses, the proteins denature, thus loosing its transparency. This causes foggy vision commonly known as the cataract. This process of de-naturation is speed ed up by several other factors like ultraviolet radiations, cigarette smoking, hormonal imbalance or use of steroid drugs etc. Regular intake of vitamin E, an antioxidant slows the cataract formation.
There always exists a dilemma among the patients regarding the surgery. When should one go for it? The simplest way to decide that is if the vision is impaired to the level that it starts hampering your day today activities, time is ripe for the surgery. Earlier was the belief that surgery should be done only when the cataract gets matured. However, with advancement of medical procedures, maturation is no longer the pre-requisite for surgery. On the other hand, a relatively mature cataract is much more difficult to remove than the less mature one. Moreover, mature cataract increases the chance of getting glaucoma i.e. increased pressure inside the eye balls.
Cataract-surgery is relatively simple process. First step involves the removal of the natural lenses of our eyes. Commonly, this is done by the process of phaco-emulsification. This involves melting up of our natural lenses with the use of a needle vibrating at very high frequency. After the removal, an artificial plastic lens is inserted which restores the normal vision. The entire surgery is performed under local anesthesia and the patient is discharged the same day or the very next day. Usually long distance vision is completely corrected after the surgery and short distance reading glasses are prescribed.
Restore vision…!
Restore life………!
Heart Attack Vs Heart Failure
Even most of the medically acquainted people today often get confused between heart attack and heart failure, what to talk of the less literate ones ! To understand this difference, one has to first get to know about the mechanism of functioning of heart.
The main function of the heart is to ensure blood supply to different organs. This is done by regular beating of the heart. This beating is ensured by an electrical impulse produced by the heart muscle on its own. As every other organ, heart muscle too, requires regular blood supply to meet its daily expenses. The particular artery which supplies the blood to the heart muscles is known as the coronary artery.
Now, there are several factors like excessive intake of fat, smoking, lack of exercise etc. which may cause blockage in the coronary artery. The result will be lesser blood supply to the heart muscles eventually causing the deadening of heart muscle which is technically known as myocardial infarction, or in more common terms, heart attack. The severity of the attack will depend upon the extent of the blockage. This blockage is checked by a diagnostic process called coronary angiography. If found, the cardiac surgeon tries to clear the process through another intervention called angioplasty. If there is a chance of relapse of the blockage, or constriction of the artery, an implant known as stent is placed inside. However, if the cardiologist finds it difficult to clear the blockage, that portion of blocked artery is bypassed and blood supply is restored from some other part. This is known as the by-pass surgery.
Heart failure or cardiac arrest is an electrical failure of the heart muscle. As discussed earlier, for proper and regular beating of the heart, electrical impulses are generated in the heart muscle. Due to several reasons like ageing, or blockage of impulse routes in heart, it may go slow, irregular or stop at all. Such event may cause irregularity in the rhythm of the heart. A faster hear rate called tachycardia, while the slower heart rate is called bradycardia. There is another case where the heart beat goes irregular, the case known as arrhythmia. A special case where the heart goes slower sometimes and faster at some other occasions, is known as the sick sinus syndrome. In case of complete failure of this electrical impulse, the heart stops immediately, the condition known as the cardiac arrest or heart failure. Any such electrical irregularity could be easily detected by a simple ECG.
To regulate this electrical activity, an artificial device called pacemaker is implanted. This is an instrument which acts as a silent spectator till the heart is functioning on its own. As soon as the impulse rate falls below 60 beats per minute, the device starts generating impulse so as to maintain the beating in the desired rhythm. Artificial pacemakers are single chambered and dual chambered, The latter one ensures the better coordinated heart rhythm as it supplies the impulse to both, atrium and ventricles of the heart via separate electrodes.
Be informed and take the right decision !!
Self medication ; A threat to life
Avoid self medication ,avoid life threats !
Rising number of medical shops and the competition among them to hike their turnover is leading to another kind of problem in India i.e. Prescription drugs/ Schedule H medicines which are meant to be sold only on the written recommendation of a registered practitioner are readily available to everyone. Schedule H drugs are those which may have serious side effects on our body. A doctor must analyze the individual requirement and repercussion before prescribing them.
A common medicine which I find most of us taking very readily for headache and other pains is a schedule H medicine having the combination of paracetamol and ibuprofen. Ibuprofen in some patients might have many serious side effects like increased risks of heart attack and stroke, stomach ulceration and bleeding etc.
This is very much necessary to make a thorough assessment of the patient by an experienced doctor regarding the side effects of the drug on the patient. Self medication of such drugs could instigate a chain of events in our body which might prove difficult for a doctor to control and may even prove fatal in later stage. Moreover to maintain a proper dose and complete the full course of schedule H medicines is also very necessary, in absence of which, the disease might get complicated or resistant.
Be Aware!!
How to recognize a schedule H drug? There is a red vertical line running throughout the length of the strip of prescription drugs. One must look for this symbol while purchasing any medicine on his own. If found, a doctor must be consulted before starting any such medicine. Even if you don’t wish to go the legal way and consult a doctor, you must ask the pharmacist regarding the side effects of the medicine and evaluate its relevance for you.
The simple urge is that please don’t rely on self medication at least for those drugs which are listed under schedule H and have a red vertical line running across their strip.
Save yourself,
Save others!
Understanding DOTS
TB is a kind of bacterial infection, manifesting itself primarily in the people with weak immune system. Such weakness is in turn linked to poor nutrition which finally finds its root in poverty. In developing nations like India, poor hygiene, malnourishment, poverty and lack of proper health facilities are compounding the statistics behind the disease.
What to talk about the downtrodden, the disease is finding its dwelling ground even in the elite of Chai-Samosa culture. The strange thing that most of us don’t know that the bacteria of TB is much popular in the air all around us attacking each one of us every moment. But our body is mighty enough to kill any such infection. Only when the weak immune system of few of us loose the battle, the symptoms appear.
Of course, tuberculosis is fully curable. But this requires proper and regular medical intervention. Regularity of medication is very important because any such gap could make the bacteria drug resistant to that particular type of antibiotic. A new line of treatment for longer duration is required in case of drug resistant tuberculosis.
Hence, in a country like India, which is having majority patients who are illiterate and unaware about the significance of regularity of medication, doctors and medical staffs always face a challenge.
To counter this challenge, the strategy of DOTS was formulated which stands for Directly Observed Treatment, Short-Course. Under this, a designated person from the community, not necessarily a healthcare professional, is appointed who just ensures that the patient takes the prescribed medication daily and regularly. The observer makes the patient take the medicine in his own supervision. This ensures that there don’t occur any gap in the course of medicine and thus, any chance of the disease turning resistant is reduced.
Most of us confuse that DOTS is the medication for TB. However, the fact is that this is just a strategy to appoint a monitor who makes the patients take all the medication in front of him daily.
Come on…
Don’t stigmatize the disease !
Fight it….
Kill TB…….!
Ignorance is not always a bliss
One of the hallmarks of a developed nation is providing “healthcare to all”. Has India achieved it so far? The answer is a big NO. There are many reasons for it. One of the biggest concerns is the Lack of Awareness. People are still dying of the diseases like tuberculosis that are fully curable. Many people suffer from hypertension but have never bothered to check their blood pressure.
I am not interested in discussing the reasons for our abysmal healthcare, but want to share a very sad experience of my maid. She suffers from hyperthyroidism with Graves disease and also has infertility along with some cysts in the uterus. Pooja (name changed) has been admitted for removal of these cysts in a premiere hospital in Delhi three times but discharged every time without surgery because of her hyperactive thyroid. For the poor lady preparing herself mentally, physically and financially for the surgery is a difficult task. I do not doubt the doctor’s credibility and I do believe that they must be doing the best for her but I pity her state of helplessness and above all her lack of awareness. She stops taking medicine whenever her thyroid profile is normal presuming that she no longer needs it, without seeking doctors’ advice. She is not aware of her health condition properly, she does not understand the nature of the treatment she is receiving and how the surgery will help her. All she understands is getting her surgery done and getting well as soon as possible so that she can get back to work and earn her bread and butter. I felt so sorry at her ignorance when she asked me “Didi ! Thyroid, liver mei bhi hota hai”. That is what somebody had told her that she has a thyroid in her liver!! This is a relatively simple case; at least Pooja knows that she has a health condition that needs attention. There are countless number of people in the world who are ignorant about their health problems.
In developed nations health is the first priority but here in India everything else seems to be more important than health. Last few months witnessed too much of hue and cry over pollution in Delhi and a welcome step like odd even formula was implemented. But how many people stayed indoors to avoid the toxic air? We need to give it a serious thought!!!
Ibuprofen empty stomach= Stomach Ulcers
Ibuprofen on an empty stomach may cause Stomach Ulcer..
My Uncle, and IAS, went to my native place to celebrate Holi. As usual, the typical Indian delicacies were served. Before even enjoying them, he took Ibuprofen as he was suffering a tooth ache. Within hours, he suffered from massive stomach ache- the delicacies being held has the culprit. We all rushed to the nearest nursing home. The doctor was quick to diagnose, Ibuprofen empty stomach, as the culprit. A thorough stomach was being done to relieve him.
Ibuprofen is an over the counter painkiller and anti-inflammatory drug widely used. Few people know that if it is taken empty stomach, it can corrode the inner lining of stomach and can cause severe ulceration. In more severe cases, bleeding may start. The maximum permissible dose of ibuprofen is 2400mg/day. Any dose beyond this are bound to cause the side effects. This must be kept in mind that this drug is never taken empty stomach. Paracetamol can be a more preferred drug of choice which can be taken empty stomach and don’t have any such side effects.
Antibiotic overuse
Its very strange that the doctors prescribe antibiotics for every second complication. To add to its complexity, cases of self recommended antibiotics is also not less. People don’t hesitate using them even for common cough and cold. The simple fact is that cough and cold are viral infections and can’t be cured by any antibiotic which are meant to destroy bacteria. Although, in cases of prolonged infection, secondary bacterial infections do occur, for which doctors are supposed to prescribe antibiotics after proper evaluation. But definitely , they are not required in every such case.
Due to their overuse, more and more bacterial stains are getting resistant to antibiotics which is a cause of urgent attention and concern. Government should keep a proper check on their circulation and make them a strict prescription drug.
Preventive health checks are important !!
Health checks ?
Well preventive health checks simply means regular visits to doctor for normal health check-ups.It’s really frustrating that most Indians go to hospital only after falling ill. Majority of the population are still unaware about the relevance of preventive health checkups. One really carries the ailment until it grows to pose as a challenge before the doctor, which he could proudly carry to the clinic as a trophy. A country having 62 millions diabetics, and 10% of its population suffering from hypertension, necessary annual checkups of person above 40 is the need of hour. Our food habits are really more rich which makes us poor in the hands of modern age Dhanvantris (doctors). Lots of ghee , lots of butter, no soup, no salads….! What is the result? Of course the above data don’t surprise!
Preventive health checks are designed in a fashion so as to give an insight into all the the incumbent ailments and make us prepare in advance to face them in an efficient and life magnifying manner. There lies a social responsibility on the part of the government to make such checkups available at all the government hospital free of cost. Agreed!! Our medical infrastructure lacks……..The hospitals are already overburdened with serious patients. But can’t the government just act in a more responsible fashion and start from an awareness campaign regarding preventive health check and gradually stretching the list of government hospitals having such facility.
Dear would be patients! Don’t carry the time bomb tickling until it blasts. Come on!! Lets detonate it.
