Tag: wellness

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Wellness

Heart attack risk higher in winter?

Cardiologist Dr TS Kler discusses how the winter can have an adverse effect on your heart, even cause heart attacks.

DR T S KLERAs the temperature stays on the lower side of the mercury, cardiologists across India are advising heart patients to be watchful.

Extreme cold weather not just brings flu and asthma attacks in its wake, it also increases the risk of heart attacks. In fact, evidence suggests that the number of patients reporting heart attacks increases during the winter months. However, awareness regarding these dangers remains abysmally low among people, including among heart patients.

A number of factors cause heart attacks to spike in the winter season:

The most significant is the risk of hypothermia or a sudden loss of body temperature which can put the body in a state of shock. The body suddenly loses its capacity to produce warmth on being exposed to chilly conditions. This may also happen when a person is not adequately protected or covered. This can be extremely dangerous for people living with heart disease. In fact, a lot of people who suffer hypothermia die of heart failure. People with coronary heart disease also often suffer angina or chest pain when exposed to cold weather. The answer is in adopting complete warm protection from head to toe, and dressing up in layers to prevent heat from escaping.

Winters are more stressful to the heart as compared to summers. When the weather is too cold, the heart has to work harder by pumping more warm blood to the peripheral areas of the body. Blood pressure is also seen to rise in winters, putting people at greater risk of heart attacks.

The arteries and veins are believed to tighten or constrict when the weather is extremely cold. This may restrict the supply of oxygen to the heart, putting it under risk.

Another factor is shortage of vitamin D. Often in winters, the Sun refuses to bestow its heat for days resulting in dark, gloomy days. A crucial impact of this sun denial may be shortage of vitamin D in the body, which is not a good thing for the heart.

Cholesterol levels often fluctuate with change in season, which may leave people with borderline high cholesterol with greater cardiovascular risk during the winter months.

How to stay safe

It may sound like common sense but preventing exposure to cold is the main way to stay safe in winters. Often we do not take the cold weather seriously, dressing casually and not bothering about the impact of cold on our bodies. For healthy people, this may just bring a few days of coughing and sneezing or fever at the most. However, in people with heart ailments, this can be catastrophic. So, wear enough clothes, in layers to prevent heat from escaping. Cover yourself, head, neck and feet included, with warm clothes to prevent exposure. Never step out unprotected. Always wear a head scarf to keep the head and ears insulated. Make sure you wear warm socks and gloves to minimise chances of the body losing heat, and hypothermia.

Avoid exhausting yourself. The heart which is already under stress coping with the drop in temperatures might not be able to take another bout of high stress activity. Take rest between work.

Importantly, never take chest pain lying down. Any sign of discomfort should prompt you to immediately rush to a doctor. This can sometimes be life saving.

The writer is Executive Director (Cardiac Sciences), Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre, New Delhi.

(Pictures courtesy www.extremehealthradio.com)

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Wellness

Fortis starts New Year with good health

Fortis Hospital, Mulund organises its very first ‘Health Mela 2015’, aims to keep people healthy all through the New Year.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

Healthy people make a healthy nation. However, recent changes in lifestyle, unconventional influences, ecological imbalances, and improper food habits are contributing to the creation of an unhealthy community. In view of the soaring health concerns affecting children and older people, Fortis Hospital, Mulund organised the ‘Health Mela 2015’, aimed at providing information on all that one needs to maintain good health.

The fair commenced yesterday, January 9, 2015.

School girl drawing healthy diet at Fortis Hospital Health Mela 2015.Emphasising good food habits and healthy living, ‘Health-Mela 2015’ was an amalgamation of numerous activities – ranging from free health screenings, drawing competition for children, healthy-baby contest for toddlers, and a series of lectures imparting knowledge about healthy living and how to keep the ailments at bay. The Health Mela also offered customised health check-up packages, as a first step towards wellness. People were offered tests for blood pressure, total cholesterol, blood glucose, ophthalmic, heart rate and many more. Stalls were set-up in the Hospital premises, offering vital information about the person’s health and wellbeing.

Talking about the objective behind the initiative, Dr S Narayani, Zonal Director, Fortis Hospital Mulund, said, “The ongoing health fair will help people get the New Year off to a healthy start. The ‘Health Mela’ is an attempt to educate the community about how important it is to have preventive healthcare.” She added that the event also targeted the needs of children by providing valuable information on nutrition and exercise. “Besides being educative and informative, the event was also a fun-and-frolic environment for the children. Nearly 200 children from various age-groups participated in drawing competitions organised by the Hospital. Similarly, nearly 65 toddlers were part of the healthy baby contest,” said Rinku Mavani, Head of Marketing and Sales at the hospital.

(Pictures courtesy Fortis Hospital, Mulund)

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Wellness

Understanding the FX Syndrome

Have you heard about the FX Syndrome? It is caused by a genetic mutation and it affects several young boys.
by Ritika Bhandari Parekh

Every new born baby’s face is searched diligently for signs of its mother or father’s features. It could have its mother’s eyes or its father’s nose. But apart from these obvious physical attributes, how can one know if the genes responsible for that baby are normal or have gone haywire?

One major impact of this can be the genetic condition known as the Fragile X syndrome (FXS). FXS is caused by a gene mutation in the FMR1 gene, at the time of conception. The FMR1 gene is important for producing proteins that help in our brain’s development.

As the FMR1 gene is found in the X chromosome, it usually affects young boys and results in mental impairment, learning and communication disabilities. FXS is also a major cause of autism in children. Luckily in India, there is an organisation called the FX Society which helps to support families fighting the FXS.

Ami and Shalini41-year old Shalini N Kedia, chairperson of the Indian FX Society, started the organisation 11 years ago because of a personal experience. She says, “I realised that there is very little information about FX in our country. I wanted to do something about this.” Despite no medical background, she decided to accomplish three tasks for society.

“Our main role is to support the families which are already diagnosed with FXS. We give them accurate information and explain the dos and don’ts when dealing with the child. Since it is a genetic disorder, not everyone is acquainted with the science,” she explains.

“One of our major accomplishments is that we are very well networked all over the country today. So if your child tests positive, they are referred to us. And with our team of gynaecologists and paediatricians, we explain how something goes missing in the brain,” she adds.

Accompanying Shalini in her mission is 37-year old Ami Mehta Kothari, secretary of the FX Society. A trained multi-sensory educator, Ami has 10 years of experience in teaching special needs children. Ami says, “Our society also educates professionals in the country, because many children are not diagnosed because of ignorance. So we try to have seminars and workshops in educating people. Our third major task is to give women information so that they can take an informed decision when they opt for another child.”

Since there is no particular cure for FXS, the problems can be improved with various treatments. These treatments consist of special education, speech and language therapy, as also occupational and physical therapy.

The Fragile X Society is present all over the world, with the maximum research being done in the US. They have created reading and writing programmes for special needs children. “We have all the international level programmes, facilities and therapies available in the country. Last year, we facilitated the opening of Ummeed, a child development centre at Lower Parel. Thus, we can claim that any child who is diagnosed will get the best facility and treatment,” says Shalini.

But the crux of the matter is creating awareness. “The rate at which the syndrome is growing, we are definitely looking forward to take professional help of a PR firm in helping us reach more people,” Ami adds.

So if you know any child in your neighbourhood who has attention problems or is undergoing delayed development, help them reach out to the FX Society in India. Alternatively if your parent or grandparent is having balance or tremor-related problems, ask your doctor about Fragile X testing.

For more details, log on to http://www.fragilex.in or call 022 666 42151/+91-98201 99092.

(Featured image courtesy www.babycenter.in. Image is used for representational purpose only)

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Wellness

Mumbai youth organise four-day free medical camp

From cardiac to dental checkups, every testing is offered free for poor, BPL families, in partnership with Seven Hills Hospital.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

Mumbai is teeming with Good Samaritans. One of these is Dr Shezanali Hemani, a south Mumbai-based young doctor, who, with a group of other youth, is organising and hosting a free four-day medical camp for Mumbaikars starting today, October 27, 2014. The camp is open to holders of orange or yellow ration cards only.

Shezanali HemaniSpeaking to The Metrognome, Dr Hemani (in pic on left) said, “I and a group of youth recently came up with the idea of revolutionising the health of the common people. Good health usually starts from early diagnosis, which most people don’t undergo. This means we miss the opportunity to nip a lot of diseases in the bud, and this neglect can sometimes even result in long illness or death. By diagnosing a disease early, we can go a long way in preventing and treating it.” He adds that people coming for consultation only need to get their current health reports along. “Plus, patients who are suffering a blockage or require a surgery or therapies like chemotherapy, radiotherapy, kidney transplant, hernia, prostrate or kidney stone will be treated for free,” Dr Hemani says.

Organised by the Khidmat-e-Azadar and Educare Foundation in association with Seven Hills Hospital, Andheri, the camp will  be a four-day affair at four different locations in Mumbai. The camp will provide a host of testing for blood pressure, blood sugar, ECG, 2D ECO, angiography, bypass, angioplasty, blood grouping, dental check-up and consultation for dental and cardiac problems. See chart below for schedule of camps:

Day/Date                    Venue                                                                                        Timing

27 October                      Malwani. Az Zehra Charitable Clinic, Chawl
No:14, Near Shankar Mandir, M.H.B. Colony,
(Monday)                    Gate no: 7, Gaikwad Nagar, Malad (W), Mumbai         10 am – 4 pm.

28 October                      Kurla. Shia Jama Masjid,
(Tuesday)                    Hallo pull, Kurla (W), Mumbai                                          10 am – 4 pm

29 October                      Mumbra. Roshni Apartment, Thakur Para,
(Wednesday)               Near Mumbra Police Station, Mumbai                            10 am – 4 pm

30 October                      Govandi Bada Imambada, Lotus Colony,
(Thursday)                   Shivaji Nagar Junction, Govandi, Mumbai                   10 am – 4 pm

Know someone who can avail of these camps? Call Dr Shezanali Hemani on +91-8956708222 or Sohel Ajani on +91-9029751888 for details.

(Pictures courtesy Dr Shezanali Hemani)

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Wellness

Indians are suffering from more cavities than before

We don’t have the time to take care of our teeth. Worryingly, this is increasingly causing cavities like never before.

‘You are what you eat’ goes the age-old adage, which simply means that good health and fitness depends on eating healthy. However, our ever-changing lifestyles mean lesser time to pay attention on what to eat, how to eat, and if it is affecting the overall and oral health. In fact, our increasing affinity for modern foods not just affects the overall health but has implications on one’s teeth as well.

This is leading to an increased prevalence of cavities and other oral health problems. This concern was further affirmed by a recent survey conducted by the market research firm GFK Mode. The survey confirms that 88 per cent dentists agree that the incidence of cavities nowadays is higher than before.

Increasingly, the survey brings to light the fact that today, ever changing food habits and modern foods are leading to the prevalence of cavities. Commissioned by Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited, the survey found that not only modern day foods but also everyday foods like rice, dal, dalia and fruits produce sugar acids that are responsible for cavities.

According to the survey, 94 per cent dentists agree that modern foods like burgers and pizzas cause cavities. Dr Sandesh Mayekar elaborates, “It’s interesting to know that in addition to modern foods, everyday foods like dal, dalia – otherwise considered healthy – can cause cavities, too. Cavities are a result of both modern and everyday foods.  Therefore, the use of a clinically proven oral care solution, which will help eliminate the root cause of cavities, is a must.”

Also, cavities are not just restricted to sweet and sugary food items. Most foods that we consume on a regular basis have the potential to cause cavities. This is because regular and modern foods contain sugars, which get converted into harmful acids inside the mouth. These acids – known as Sugar Acids – are the primary cause of cavities. The sugar acids eat away the external surface of the tooth, destroy the enamel and lead to the formation of cavities. If not neutralised in time, they can cause demineralisation, which can ultimately lead to tooth damage. Therefore, neutralisation of sugar acids is the key to fighting cavities.

(Picture courtesy health.howstuffworks.com)

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Wellness

Smoking ups dementia risk

A recent report by WHO confirms that smoking increases dementia risk, like it is a factor in cancer and cardiovascular disease.
by Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI)

Smokers have a 45 per cent higher risk of developing dementia than non-smokers, according to information published recently by the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI).

Evidence reviewed by WHO reveals a strong link between smoking and the risk of dementia, and the more a person smokes, the higher the risk. It is estimated that 14 per cent of Alzheimer’s disease cases worldwide are potentially attributable to smoking. WHO warns that exposure to second-hand smoke (passive smoking) may also increase the risk of dementia.

“Since there is currently no cure for dementia, public health interventions need to focus on prevention by changing modifiable risk factors like smoking,” says Dr Shekhar Saxena, Director of the Department for Mental Health and Substance Abuse at WHO. “This research shows that a decrease in smoking now is likely to result in a substantial decrease in the burden of dementia in the years to come.”

Tobacco use is already recognised as the one risk factor common to four main groups of non-communicable diseases (NCDs): cancers, cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease and diabetes. “Tobacco is one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced, killing nearly six million people a year,” says Dr Douglas Bettcher, Director of the Department for Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases at WHO. “WHO urges governments to actively implement and enforce the measures of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, especially smoke-free environment laws and access to tobacco cessation services”.

Laurent Huber, Director of the Framework Convention Alliance (FCA) for Tobacco Control, comments: “It is no surprise to see these findings confirm that tobacco smoking is a major risk factor for dementia. This adds yet another item to the long list of the devastating consequences of tobacco and gives even more reason for personal and public health action to help people to quit smoking.”

“The research also shows that quitting smoking later in life might be beneficial so encouraging and supporting current tobacco users to quit should be a priority,” says Serge Gauthier, chair of the ADI’s Medical Scientific Advisory Panel.

Dementia affects more than 44 million people worldwide, with almost two thirds of them living in low- and middle-income countries. “Every year, there are 7.7 million new cases of dementia. In 2010, the global cost was calculated at US$ 604 billion, which represents 1 per cent of global GDP (gross domestic product),” says Marc Wortmann, ADI Executive Director. “No government can ignore the opportunity to link this new information into its planning and health system activities to reduce smoking and control NCDs.”

ADI believes that this information brief can form the basis for countries to add messages about brain health and dementia risk into public health anti-smoking programs and interventions.

(Pictures courtesy www.express.co.uk, www.dailymail.co.uk)

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