Viswanath Reddy Gastroenterologist

06/07/2025

Constipation is a very common condition faced by almost everyone at some point of time. Constipation doesn’t only mean hard stools. It also includes sensation of incomplete evacuation and need for straining and also manoeuvres to clear the bowel.
Modern day lifestyle has made us more susceptible to develop constipation. Older generations diet included plenty of fiber- salads- greens, water and regular physical activity.
Nowadays we are taking more refined diet and hardly doing any physical activity and becoming couch potatoes.
One point to highlight in this post is the natural passage for clearing stool is better in squatting position- Indian commode. What happens with Western commode is, the angle of Re**um and a**s is more oblique and hence emptying is not proper and there develops the need to strain and consequently complications like Piles, Fissure, Fistula….
If you can’t squat due to knee pain, you could use a foot stool to create a better angle for evacuation.
Old is gold as the adage goes. Prefer Indian diet and Indian commode.

Medical knowledge about Gastroenterology and liver in simple words

05/06/2025

25/05/2025

The spirit menace, We Shall Overcome

Prepared from starches and sugars by fermentation,
A liquid menace haunting many a nation.
What starts with peer pressure or social delight,
Turns into a shadow that steals away light.

Unaware of its creeping consequences,
Euphoria fades, replaced by drowsy sentences.
The leading cause of self-inflicted harm,
It strikes the organs without alarm.

Liver drenches, heart wrenches,
Nerves cry out, the pancreas clenches.
A known cause of cancers thread
Breast, colon, liver, neck, and head.

Accidents don’t just occur, they’re caused,
When judgment’s blurred and driving’s paused.
Families break, society sways,
Anxiety, depression cloud the days.

Addiction, aggression, work in decay,
Finances dwindle and slip away.
By the time the truth hits straight,
It may already be too late.

But better late than never, they say—
Quitting is tough, yet there’s a way.
With dear ones near and rehab’s aid,
A brighter path can still be laid.

Physicians might lend medicine,
But no magic pill can wholly win.
Surely the Government can put a tax,
Without any scope of implementation lax.

Anonymous societies can definitely help
But it all starts with you, the first step.
Before you’re overrun and undone—
Just pause and think: We shall overcome.

22/05/2025

Maida – The Silent Culprit

Maida, refined from the humble wheat,
Blends with taste in all we eat.
A silent villain in our global tale,
Of growing waistlines, now grown stale.

Empty of nutrients — no protein, no might,
Just calories hiding in plain sight.
It turns to fat, not muscle or aid,
Gathering quietly in the belly it’s laid.

Pizza, burger, puri, samosa — each bite,
Biscuits and bread dressed in white.
It lurks in them all — so be aware,
To guard your health with mindful care.

11/05/2025

Happy Mother’s Day

A Tribute to Mother – The Eternal Source

From the ancient Sanskrit word Matr,
emerged the word Mother—
not merely a name, but a meaning:
origin, source, life itself and nothing other.

On this second Sunday of May,
we honour all mothers and motherhood,
yet her essence is timeless—
woven into every breath all the way.

Like Mother Nature,
she gives life, she nurtures,
she sustains us through every season,
quietly enduring, endlessly giving, always with smiles.

Through struggles and storms,
she teaches us to rise,
to hope, to love,
to become and to shine.

She is the silent strength
beneath our dreams,
the pillar upon which
our lives we build the realms.

Let us not wait for a single day
to offer our gratitude—
for every day is truly Mother’s Day,
a chance to love her as deeply
as she has always done till today.

30/03/2025

Ugadi or Gudipadva….., so many names for the same festival meaning start of new year- Chaitra month. Sun transits onto Aries.
This year it’s Viswavasu Samvatsara in the 60 year calendar.
Viswavasu embodies universal harmony, kindness, and peace, guiding individuals towards compassion and success.
The Ugadi Pachadi which is a delicious mixture of 6 tastes: sweet, salt, sour, bitter, spicy and astringent, actually reminds us to expect and be prepared for all kinds of experiences good or bad or tangy or bitter… in the life over the coming year.

Hope we all have a blessed new year with peace and harmony.

14/03/2025

Festival of Holi is colourful and joyful celebration of start of spring. Scientific basis being welcoming spring or new life with celebration. Man has always been in sync with nature and festivals also represent this vividly.
Holika was a beast sister of Hiranyakashyapu, who tried to burn Prahlad and in the process got burned which also symbolises victory of good over evil. So Holika Dahan is done the night before Holi- clearing the bad things( physically and mentally).
Krishna playfully smears Radha on this day( to have a same skin colour)- unity
We follow the same - smearing, sprinkling or splashing colours on each other on this day and collectively enjoying it- reiterating the sense of unity.
Turmeric and natural colours use for the same cleanses the skin- scientific basis for it.
Hoping for safe Holi to all.

08/03/2025

04/03/2024

It all starts in childhood as the saying goes, ‘Easy to bend a plant than a tree’. Children should be encouraged about physical activity and avoiding devices and eating junk food. Our grand old people’s idea of ‘being chubby is healthy’ should be struck off from the mind.
Obesity is the root cause for all sorts of diseases ranging from diabetes, hypertension, liver disease, cardiac, stroke risk, kidney disease, cancer….
Now the leading cause for liver disease apart from alcohol is fatty liver due to obesity.
Just talk to your friends and relatives and prevent this tameable monster disease.

04/02/2024

World cancer day, an international day marked on February 4 th, to raise the awareness about cancer and encourage the prevention, detection and treatment of the deadly disease.
This year theme is “ Close the care gap”. This theme is to reduce the inequalities in the access to the health care of the cancer sufferers. The UICC theme this year is, “Together, we challenge those in power”. Government should close the gaps in the availability of the cancer health care resources. We could, with public- private partnership, challenge the monster disease with the Government’s help.
Cancer as you all know is a disease which can affect any organ and there is rapid uncontrollable multiplication of unwanted cells which can spread anywhere in body. We have to diagnose it early for good outcome otherwise it’s like a mishap.

There are some preventable cancers:
Two vaccines can significantly reduce the cancer burden.
1. HPV vaccine in adolescent prevents Cervical cancer( second most common cancer in women) and A**l cancer.
2. Hepatitis B vaccination prevents HBV related liver cancer.
Lifestyle changes
1. Prevent and treat Obesity. Exercise regularly.
2. Avoid smoking- lung cancer
To***co- oral, head and neck cancers, bladder cancer…
3. Avoid alcohol- Pancreas and stomach cancer.
4. Stop IV drug abuse- Hepatitis B , C related liver cancer
5. Safe s*x practices
6. Take precautions against radiation- sun screen etc. - skin cancer.
6. Avoid smoked food and preserved food- stomach cancer. Aflatoxins in spoiled seeds, nuts- liver cancer. Reduce red meat ingestion - colon cancer.
and also limit sugar intake.
Eat healthy and stay healthy.

Get periodical cancer screenings: skin exams, Pap smears, mammograms, colonoscopies, prostate exams, and low-dose CT scans for current or former smokers.

Aarogyasree and Aayushmaan facilities can be used by the economically challenged for early diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Many corporate hospitals also offer these services.

The disease burden is increasing day by day and we are seeing more and more younger people struggling with cancer which impacts economically and adds to the health care burden of the country. If we can diagnose it early, we could treat it appropriately and have a good outcome. Please spread a word about cancer and it’s prevention
and so ‘together we could’ tame the monster in it’s springing days.

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