Medistn.com

06/02/2017

Support Women’s Heart Health: National Wear Red Day

National Wear Red day is a popular day celebrated in America on the 3rd of February. But it is a great international platform to show support and spread awareness about the fact that heart disease is the number one cause of mortality in women. On National Wear Red Day, we are using this opportunity to educate the Women in India to wear red to support the cause.

In 2003, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and the American Heart Association took action against a disease that was claiming the lives of almost 500,000 American women each year – a disease that women weren’t paying consideration to. Arising from that action, National Wear Red Day was born. It is celebrated on the first Friday in February, annually to raise awareness about heart disease being the No. 1 cause of mortality in women.

Some facts about women heart health in India:

In India, women are more at risk of heart disease today than 3 three years ago
The largest group of women at risk of a heart disease are aged between 35-44
Heart disease risk is highest amongst housewives as it is amongst working professionals.
Many studies reveal that 3 in 5 Women in India are at high risk of cardiovascular disease as early as 35 years of age. With data showing such alarming results, it is important to take the necessary preventive measure and raise awareness.

Follow the listed measures to prevent heart diseases:

1. Get your cholesterol and blood pressure checked frequently
If you’re over 40, ask your physician about having a health check to evaluate your risk of developing heart disease. This would include checking your cholesterol level and blood pressure.

If your cholesterol level or blood pressure is higher than it should be, this augments your risk of heart disease. Your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes or, if deemed necessary, recommend medication to reduce your cholesterol or blood pressure.

2. Stop smoking
You’re twice as likely to have a heart attack if you are a smoker. Studies show that more young women now smoke than young adult men. Stopping smoking will diminish your chances of dealing with heart disease.

3. Exercise to prevent heart disease
Incorporate more exercise, including regular aerobic exercises such as swimming and walking. To truly protect your heart, you need to do at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, such as fast walking or cycling, every week.

4. Lose weight
About six in every 10 women in India are either overweight or obese in urban areas. Carrying excess weight puts an unfortunate strain on your heart, and you’re more likely to have high cholesterol and high blood pressure, which also amplify the risk of heart disease.

5. Drink moderately
Drinking a little alcohol often may be good for your heart, but make sure you stay within the recommended drinking limits. Drinking more will increase your risk of heart problems.

Too much alcohol, or binge-drinking, can injure the heart muscle leading to irregular heart rhythms or worse, heart failure.

6. Balance your diet
Eat healthy and be particularly careful not to consume more salt than is recommended (which is no more than 6g a day) and to reduce the amount of saturated fat you eat. Include plenty of fruits and leafy greens in your daily diet.

7. Manage your stress
Some researchers have suggested that stress can add to heart disease. If you feel you are under a lot of stress, it’s important to discover how to relax. There are some easy techniques you can learn to help you manage with stress, like meditation.

The most important takeaway to all this is that the first step to a healthy heart is for women to assess their current heart condition and hence the immediate need is to go for a heart check-up. Lets encourage our women to take up more heart healthy measures for a better living!

23/01/2017

Cervical Cancer: Causes, Diagnosis and Symptoms

Cancer is a disease in which cells in the body grow out of control. Cancer is always named for the part of the body where it starts, even when it spreads to other parts of the body later. Cervical cancer is the third most common tumor growth in women worldwide. The first being breast cancer.

The cervix is the narrow, lower end of the uterus. The cervix connects the va**na to the upper part of the uterus. The womb or the uterus is where a baby grows when a woman is pregnant.

The Cause

The human papilloma virus (HPV) is the main root of cervical cancer. HPV is a common virus that is contracted from one person to another during s*xual in*******se. According to medical studies at least half of s*xually active people will have HPV at some point in their lives, but among them a few women will get cervical cancer.

All s*xually active women are at risk of suffering from cervical cancer. It usually occurs most often in women over the age 30. In addition to having HPV, these factors can also contribute to cervical cancer:

Smoking.
Using birth control pills for a long time (five or more years).
Having given birth to three or more children.
Being HIV positive
The Symptoms

Symptoms of cervical cancer don’t usually become apparent unless it has reached an advanced stage. Symptoms might also be confused as indications of other problems like yeast infection or a urinary tract infection.

Here are the symptoms of cervical cancer:

abnormal bleeding, such as bleeding after s*x, after a pelvic exam, or after menopause and between menstrual periods,
pelvic pain
painful urination
discharge that’s unusual in amount, color, consistency, or smell
having to go to urinate more frequently
The Diagnosis

There are two tests that can either help avoid cervical cancer or find it early.

The first one is through a Pap test (or Pap smear), which looks for precancerous cell changes on the cervix that can be treated. The Pap test can find cervical cancer early which is when treatment is most effective. The Pap test is recommended for women who have has s*xual in*******se aged 21-65 years old.

The HPV test looks for HPV, the virus that can cause cervical cancer and precancerous cell changes.

As with all diseases, prevention is better than cure so some ways to avoid cervical cancer are to get the HPV vaccine, to have protected s*x, have regular PAP tests and quit smoking.

06/01/2017

How the environment impacts our health

06/01/2017

WHAT CAN CAUSE HYPERTENSION?
उच्च रक्तचाप के कारण

The exact causes are unknown, but there are factors which are understood to contribute to this condition.

Being overweight or obese; smoking is a cause as is excess alcohol consumption. Lack of exercise, too much salt in your diet, stress and old age are all thought to be contributing factors.

Such things as genetics, a family history of hypertension, adrenal or thyroid disorders as well as chronic kidney disease also play a part.

31/12/2016

मधुमेह - गुर्दे की बीमारी के लिए एक प्रमुख जोखिम कारक
DIABETES - A MAJOR RISK FACTOR FOR KIDNEY DISEASE

Diabetes mellitus, usually called diabetes, is a disease in which your body does not make enough insulin or cannot use normal amounts of insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone that regulates the amount of sugar in your blood. A high blood sugar level can cause problems in many parts of your body.

Are there different types of diabetes?

The most common ones are Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 diabetes usually occurs in children. It is also called juvenile onset diabetes mellitus or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. In this type, your pancreas does not make enough insulin and you have to take insulin injections for the rest of your life.

Type 2 diabetes, which is more common, usually occurs in people over 40 and is called adult onset diabetes mellitus. It is also called non insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. In Type 2, your pancreas makes insulin, but your body does not use it properly. The high blood sugar level often can be controlled by following a diet and/or taking medication, although some patients must take insulin. Type 2 diabetes is particularly prevalent among African Americans, American Indians, Latin Americans and Asian Americans.

What does diabetes do to the kidneys?

With diabetes, the small blood vessels in the body are injured. When the blood vessels in the kidneys are injured, your kidneys cannot clean your blood properly. Your body will retain more water and salt than it should, which can result in weight gain and ankle swelling. You may have protein in your urine. Also, waste materials will build up in your blood.

Diabetes also may cause damage to nerves in your body. This can cause difficulty in emptying your bladder. The pressure resulting from your full bladder can back up and injure the kidneys. Also, if urine remains in your bladder for a long time, you can develop an infection from the rapid growth of bacteria in urine that has a high sugar level.

How many diabetic patients will develop kidney disease?

About 30 percent of patients with Type 1 (juvenile onset) diabetes and 10 to 40 percent of those with Type 2 (adult onset) diabetes eventually will suffer from kidney failure.

What are the early signs of kidney disease in patients with diabetes?

The earliest sign of diabetic kidney disease is an increased excretion of albumin in the urine. This is present long before the usual tests done in your doctor's office show evidence of kidney disease, so it is important for you to have this test on a yearly basis. Weight gain and ankle swelling may occur. You will use the bathroom more at night. Your blood pressure may get too high. As a person with diabetes, you should have your blood, urine and blood pressure checked at least once a year. This will lead to better control of your disease and early treatment of high blood pressure and kidney disease. Maintaining control of your diabetes can lower your risk of developing severe kidney disease.

What are the late signs of kidney disease in patients with diabetes?

As your kidneys fail, your blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels will rise as well as the level of creatinine in your blood. You may also experience nausea, vomiting, a loss of appetite, weakness, increasing fatigue, itching, muscle cramps (especially in your legs) and anemia (a low blood count). You may find you need less insulin. This is because diseased kidneys cause less breakdown of insulin. If you develop any of these signs, call your doctor.

Signs of Kidney Disease in Patients with Diabetes

Albumin/protein in the urine
High blood pressure
Ankle and leg swelling, leg cramps
Going to the bathroom more often at night
High levels of BUN and creatinine in blood
Less need for insulin or antidiabetic medications
Morning sickness, nausea and vomiting
Weakness, paleness and anemia
Itching
What will happen if my kidneys have been damaged?

First, the doctor needs to find out if your diabetes has caused the injury. Other diseases can cause kidney damage. Your kidneys will work better and last longer if you:

Control your diabetes
Control high blood pressure
Get treatment for urinary tract infections
Correct any problems in your urinary system
Avoid any medicines that may damage the kidneys (especially over-the-counter pain medications)
If no other problems are found, your doctor will try to keep your kidneys working as long as possible. The use of high blood pressure medicines called angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors has been shown to help slow the loss of kidney function.

How are the kidneys kept working as long as possible?

The kidney doctor, called a nephrologist, will plan your treatment with you, your family and your dietitian. Two things to keep in mind for keeping your kidneys healthy are controlling high blood pressure in conjunction with an ACE inhibitor and following your renal diabetic diet. Restricting protein in your diet also might be helpful. You and your dietitian can plan your diet together.

What is end stage renal failure in patients with diabetes?

End stage renal failure, or kidney failure, occurs when your kidneys are no longer able to support you in a reasonably healthy state, and dialysis or transplantation is needed. This happens when your kidneys function at only 10 to 15 percent.

How is kidney failure treated in diabetic patients?

Three types of treatment can be used once your kidneys have failed: kidney transplantation, hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. To learn more about treatment options for kidney failure click here.

Can a patient with diabetes have a kidney transplant?

Yes. Once you get a new kidney, you may need a higher dose of insulin. Your appetite will improve so your new kidney will break down insulin better than your injured one. You will use steroids to keep your body from rejecting your new kidney. If your new kidney fails, dialysis treatment can be started while you wait for another kidney. To learn more about kidney transplant click here.

What about pancreas transplants?

Sometimes it is possible to perform a pancreas transplant along with a kidney transplant. Your doctor can advise you about this possibility.

What is the future outlook for patients with diabetes?

Today, more and more research money are spent on diabetes research. Hopefully, the prevention and cure of diabetes is in our future. In the meantime, you can manage your diabetes better with:

regular monitoring of your blood glucose levels
maintaining an awareness of controlling your blood pressure, and
following your special diet.

31/12/2016

New Year Greetings
नव वर्ष की शुभकामनाएं

22/12/2016

डायबिटीज में होने वाले संक्रमण के लक्षण
(Symptoms of diabetes infection)

डायबिटीज, हमारे शरीर की संक्रमण से लड़ने की क्षमता को खत्म कर सकती है। शरीर के उत्तकों और रक्त में बढ़ा हुआ शुगर का स्तर, शरीर में बैक्टीरिया को पनपने और विकसित होने के लिए प्रेरित करता है, और इसी कारण हमारा शरीर बेहद तेजी से बैक्टीरिया का शिकार हो जाता है। ये बैक्टीरिया हमारे शरीर के विभिन्न अंगों जैसे, मूत्राशय, जननांग, पैर और त्वचा पर पनपतें हैं। सही समय पर लिया गया उचित इलाज इन्हें रोक सकता है। लेकिन यदि ऐसा न किया जाए तो कुछ समय के बाद, यह घातक रूप ले लेतें हैं।

समय पर करें लक्षणों की पहचान
डायबिटीज से पनपने वाले ज्यादातर संक्रमण ठीक हो सकतें हैं, लेकिन उसकी पहली शर्त यही है कि आपको उनके बारे में जानकारी होनी चाहिए। यदि आपको नीचे दिए गए लक्षणों में से कोई भी लक्षण नजर आए तो तुरंत अपने डॉक्टर से संपर्क करें।

- 101 F से ज्यादा बुख़ार
- पसीना या ठंड लगना
- त्वचा के लाल चक्कते
- दर्द, कोमलता, लालिमा, या सूजन
- ठीक न होने वाले घाव और चोट
- लाली, गर्माहट, पीड़ादायक फोड़े
- गले में खराश, दर्द और सूजन
- साइनस ड्रैनेज, नाक बंद, सिर दर्द या चिक्क बोन में नमी
- सूखी, या बलगम वाली खांसी, जो 2 दिनों से ज्यादा रुके
- मुँह या जीभ पर सफेद धब्बे
- मतली, उल्टी या दस्त
- फ्लू जैसे लक्षण (ठंड लगना, दर्द, सिरदर्द, या थकान) आम तौर अच्छा महसूस न होना
- जननांग में खुजली
- बार-बार और दर्द के साथ यूरिन आना।
- लाल, या बादलों जैसा और दुर्गंधयुक्त यूरिन

20/12/2016

Why You Should Start Drinking Ginger Tea And How To Prepare Ginger Tea The Right Way

Even people who are great fans of coffee can confirm that drinking hot tea in the morning is a unique experience. The vast majority of people opt for green tea, which is great, but our suggestion is definitely more beneficial. We highly recommend drinking ginger tea. This tea brings a myriad of heal...

19/12/2016

Breast Cancer Symptoms & Signs

19/12/2016

Trend of breast cancer in India
भारत में स्तन कैंसर की प्रवृत्ति

This graph depicts the changing trend in the age wise distribution of breast cancer in our country. Over the years, the incidence of breast cancer has increases dramatically and there has been a hi…

19/12/2016

“Our bodies can recover from tremendous amounts of trauma and chronic abuse.”

Emotional Health Columnist Therese Borchard discusses how yoga might help with mental health issues like addiction, depression, and anxiety.

15/12/2016

Yoga poses to help your digestion this holiday season and beyond