Category: health

Poor Lifestyle Choices Double The Risk of Arthritis: Warn Doctors

Mumbai: Arthritis cases are on the rise. Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Gout, and Lupus are some types of arthritis. While rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most painful types of arthritis affecting the joints, surrounding tissues, organs, and leading to the highest number of deaths. Certain risk factors like obesity, smoking, stress and a sedentary lifestyle increase the likelihood of getting some types of arthritis or making it worse. It is possible to decrease the risk of arthritis by maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, eat a well-balanced diet, de-stressing, and quitting smoking.

Arthritis is a debilitating condition that leads to pain in the joints and surrounding joints. A large number of people are battling arthritis, some continue to suffer in silence, and many cases go unreported. There are certain lifestyle factors that can increase the risk of arthritis, and leave one crippled for life.

Dr. Dhiraj Sonawane, Orthopaedic Consultant ,Apollo Spectra Mumbai said, “There are many types of arthritis, and the symptoms vary from person to person. Some arthritis is more common in women like osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and fibromyalgia. Gout is more common in men. One in five women suffer from RA. People who are overweight or obese may encounter knee osteoarthritis. Excess weight can also worsen osteoarthritis worse. Being overweight will pressurize the joints like hips and knees. Even bacteria and viruses infect joints and cause arthritis. Joint injury and repetitive stress can take a toll on the joint and lead to osteoarthritis in that joint. Even high levels of estrogen (female sex hormone also seen in males) can invite arthritis. Menopause, a previous infection, and stress aggravate arthritis symptoms. Initially, around 10-15 youngsters with arthritis visited me. Now, more than 20 youngsters above 30 come with early arthritis especially who are desk job binded.”

Dr Shyam Thakkar, Orthopedic (Foot and Ankle Specialist) at Lokmanya Hospital, Mumbai, said, “Arthritis is now becoming a common problem in Indian population. Most of these patients are above the age of 50 years. Almost, 6 out of 10 patients in our OPD are suffering from arthritis. Most commonly affected joints in arthritis in India are the knee. However, we are also seeing increase in incidence in arthritis in Foot & Ankle, Hips and other joints. Unfortunately, the incidence of arthritis is increasing in younger age group also. The reason for this may be because of increase in participation in sports resulting in sports injuries and other joint related problems especially around the Foot and Ankle which are being neglected. If these problems are diagnosed at an early stage, it can be prevented and treated without surgery. But once the arthritis progresses, surgery may be required. Therefore, the problem can be reduced if the treatment is done at the right time without ignoring joint pain.”

Dr. Fahad Shaikh Senior Orthopaedic Surgeon at Kohinoor Hospital said, “Osteoarthritis of the knee happens in people following occupations that involve repetitive knee bending and squatting. Smoking raises one’s chances of RA and worsens the prognosis of it. Smoking makes it difficult to stay physically active, which is essential in managing RA and other types of arthritis. According to population senses 2011 India has 104 million elderly (60 years) which is expected to grow to 170 million by 2026. According to UN population Fund And Help Age India. Younger population may be affected with joints disorder. Following injury or inflammatory arthritis. Internal derangements of knee and hip is quite common in younger age group due to active lifestyle and sports.

Dr. Sonawane said, “A sedentary lifestyle will worsen the symptoms. There is pain and stiffness in the joints due to various types of arthritis, and the muscles surrounding it can become weak. The tendons and other soft tissue get inflamed causing joint instability. Staying physically active can help improve flexibility in joints and the surrounding muscles. Strength training helps build muscle mass and tendon strength to stabilize and support joints. Walking, swimming, yoga, Pilates, quadriceps exercises and cycling can do the trick. If the pain is aggravated then just rest and make sure that you fully recover. Sleep to reduce fatigue, and eat well. Avoid foods with sugar, saturated and trans fats causing inflammation. Expose yourself to sun every morning, eat Vitamin D and calcium rich diet, take regular breaks after every 45 minutes. Avoid sitting and Squatting, ground level activities, Indian toilets, obesity, smoking, do not delay consulting orthopaedician, and say no to long term painkillers.”

DrKure brings @home healthcare for Odisha Citizens

Bhubaneswar: Health Service at the doorstep – the concept has been developed by renowned doctors and specialists to cater to the basic health needs of the citizens of Odisha.

The healthcare at home is delivered through the app ‘DrKure’, which includes consulting a doctor online, clinic or home visit, home sample collection, medicine delivery, physiotherapy, nursing care, nutritionists advice, ambulance service besides remote health monitoring of a patient through smart health devices.

‘The home healthcare service is available to individuals and also includes Corporate care for employees. The app service is limited to Bhubaneswar now and it will be gradually extended to other key cities of Odisha. Our mantra is 3 P’s i.e. Preventive, Proactive and Personalized care‘, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Archana Mallick said in a press release.

People can download the app on both the android play store and iOS devices, she added.

‘We aim to create a Health Mart in Bhubaneswar very soon where people can get all basic health service with availability of smart health devices,’ Co-founder Dr. S.C. Mallick said. Eminent Doctors like Skin Specialist Dr. S C Mallick (founder), Onco Surgeon Dr. Soumen Roy, Surgeon Dr. Sangram Mohapatra, Gynaecologist Dr. Monica Gupta, Neurologist Dr. Akash Agrawal, Endocrinologist Dr. Sandip Sahu, Nephrologist Dr. Bapu Nayak, Medicine Specialist Dr. Jayashree Das among others are on board to provide health consultation to the patients through this app.

The app service is designed for NRI parents, Corporate employees, and other patients, who require 360-degree health service under a single umbrella. Drkure already touched upon thousands of lives in Odisha and making them fit, healthy and safe in this pandemic time.

Safe Conduct of Festivals Imperative to Control Transmission of COVID 19 infection

Hyderabad, October 8, 2021: Acceleration of COVID-19 transmission through various religious gatherings has been observed in many places in India. It is necessary to adopt and follow strict mitigation measures, otherwise the festive season can turn out to be a superspreading event which eventually may prove to be a burden on the healthcare system.

As per Dr Merlin Moni, Associate Professor, Division of Infectious disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Amrita Hospitals, Kochi, COVID 19 transmission dynamics is closely related to the 3 Cs:

• CLOSED SPACES with poor airflow
• CROWDED PLACES
• CLOSE CONTACT settings with face-to-face contact

Talking about managing mass gatherings, Dr Moni said, “Some of the upcoming mass gathering events such as ‘Navaratri’, ‘Durga Puja’, ‘Dussehra’ etc. will need comprehensive strategic planning in organising them in the current pandemic situation and a collective decision will need to be taken in the form of a consensus from key stakeholders such as policy makers, representatives from religious organisations as well as experts. In this context it is essential to formulate and implement strict standard operating procedures on preventive measures for containment the spread of COVID 19 during the festivals. The logistics of the festivals including the expected number of people, dates and the potential barriers to control the crowd needs to be discussed with the local government and health authorities.”

SOME USEFUL TIPS:

According to Dr Moni the following guidelines for religious places of worships during festival times and elaborate administrative and general preventive measures can help keep safe from the spread of Coronavirus:

• No festival related events should be allowed in containment zones
• All gatherings in connection with upcoming major religious events such as Dussehra, Durga Puja, Vidyarambham etc. should focus on maintaining a relatively safe cluster participation and limited participants
• All vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, children, geriatric age groups, and immunosuppressed individuals should not attend public religious activities
• Unvaccinated individuals should be encouraged to avoid gatherings.
• Norms related to maximum number of permitted persons to celebrate the festival in every setting must be complied with the existing state government guidelines
• On arrival at religious settings and while attending festivals, all visitors must wash/sanitise their hands frequently
• Maintaining physical distance of 6 feet wherever possible and always wearing face masks properly is a must
• Double masking must be followed, and local government authorities should be deployed to ensure adherence
• Under any circumstances, symptomatic visitors must not be allowed for darshan and attending the festivals
• If any of the visitors experience any COVID-like symptoms, viz., fever, cough etc, they should immediately contact the medical teams stationed there
• Authorities must ensure that no dining should be promoted inside religious settings. In unavoidable cases, appropriate physical distancing must be followed

Mental Health Day quote from Mr. Rajiv Bansal, Director-Operations, Global Indian International School (GIIS), India

“Mental health disorders in students is a challenging issue, that needs a collaborative effort and a multi-level approach from parents, schools, and health care providers. Early identification and intervention are vital factors to reach at-risk students before symptoms manifest into more severe issues. The past year has been challenging for young minds as they dealt with the uncertainty that led to anxiety and fear. GIIS is committed to the well-being of its students and we have taken several initiatives such as sensitizing and educating students and parents about the importance of good mental health, implementing a ‘mental health awareness program’ through workshops, webinars, and class sessions.

We also introduced GIIS Healthline, to provide one on one counseling to students to help them cope with anxiety, stress, or other mental health challenges brought about by the pandemic. At GIIS, wellness of our students is of paramount importance and we shall do all that we can to ensure a safe and nurturing environment for our students.” said, Mr. Rajiv Bansal, Director-Operations, Global Indian International School (GIIS), India.

Aakash Healthcare Extends Medical Expertise in Rohtak with the launch of its Multi-Specialty OPD in the Region

The OPD has been launched in association with Sunflag Global Hospital

Rohtak, 7th October, 2021: Pioneering in providing the latest in healthcare services across Delhi NCR and North India, Aakash Healthcare, New Delhi has now extended its services at Rohtak with the launch of its Multi super-specialty OPD in association with city based Sunflag Global Hospital, Rohtak. Aimed at benefiting the residents of Rohtak and its neighboring areas the OPD services, starting from today, will be functional on every Thursday from 11 AM to 1 PM.

7th October 2021 between 11 am – 1 pm, and these OPD’s will allow an ease of access for the local for consultations pertaining to Cardiology, Oncology, Urology and Kidney related ailments. The OPD services were launched in the honorable presence of Dr Umesh Gupta, Director, Nephrology & KTP, Dr Abhay Kumar, Director, Cardiac Surgery, Dr Praveen Jain, Head, Medical Oncology and Dr Vikas Aggarwal, Director, Urology & KTP.

Highlighting the dire need for a dedicated OPD to address renal issues in the city, Dr Umesh Gupta, Aakash Healthcare, Dwarka, insisted on the importance of regular screening and keeping the kidneys healthy. He said, “With rising prevalence of diabetes and hypertension in the country, the incidence of kidney diseases is on a rise. Diabetes and hypertension remain the major causes of renal failure, but these are preventable to an extent with timely diagnosis followed by regular treatment. Regular health check-ups for screening of such conditions in the early phase are a must as this will not only help reduce the financial burden on the patient but also on the society, as a whole.”

Attributing to a plethora of reasons including poor lifestyle habits like smoking, binging on alcohol, poor eating habits and sedentary lifestyle, has led to patients with high cholesterol, hypertension and high blood sugar levels. While a person’s genetic disposition and family history remain the most common and uncontrollable risk factors, majority of heart diseases in the younger generation which is on the rise is due to excessive stress.

“Through the launch of this OPD services, we hope to raise awareness among the masses on the importance of early detection of heart problems and its treatment outcomes. In majority of the cases, heart problems are often neglected by the younger population until it causes distress. Cases being on rise, there is a dire need to sensitize the society to take necessary precautions to eliminate heart problems from becoming an epidemic. The main objective of setting up this OPD is to extend the best of services to the people of Rohtak in their vicinity.” said Dr Abhay Kumar, Director, Cardiac Surgery.

“Fighting against Cancer takes immense strength and determination from one’s end. Since early detection of such cancers can have favorable outcomes with respect to the advancements made in the field of oncology treatment, it is imperative to state that awareness plays a major role. Therefore, people need to be aware about the symptoms and ensure regular check-ups for early detection.” said Dr. Parveen Jain, Head, Medical Oncology.

The occurrence of kidney failure or chronic kidney disease (CKD) cases in the country are rapidly increasing due to various factors such as Diabetes, Uncontrolled Hypertension, Genetic conditions, Autoimmune diseases, drug or alcohol abuse and urinary tract infections. With ‘Kidney Transplant’ being the only end solution for such cases, it is imperative for patients and their families to understand various types of a kidney transplant surgical procedures as people are sceptical about their own well-being when they are asked to donate one kidney.

“Robot- assisted surgeries are currently revolutionizing the way surgeries are conducted across the globe. We need to understand that donating one kidney does not affect the physical abilities, quality of life or longevity of a person. We also remove donor kidney by laparoscopic methods so that donor have minimal discomfort and excellent cosmetic results.” said Dr Vikas Aggarwal, Director, Urology & KTP.

Dr. Aashish Chaudhry, Managing Director, Aakash Healthcare, Dwarka said, “With the launch of the OPD services, patients across all age groups, socio-economic backgrounds, etc. can avail the best consultation and treatment in Rohtak and nearby regions, without the inconvenience of travelling to another city. Highly experienced and well qualified doctors from Aakash Healthcare have already created their own milestones and are now inclined towards serving the society for ensuring better health.”

Ayushman Bharat DIgital Mission: The Benefit and Future of Digitisation in The Medical Sciences

by Dr. Jennifer Prabhu, Co-Founder & CEO, Circee Health- a disease-reversal platform

The current Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission by the PM to allow greater IT penetration of healthcare is welcome news. What makes it doubly so, is the focus on digital health such as app-based solutions. This is because leveraging digital technology towards disease management and cure is very cost-effective.

The Focus of this mission towards Public-Private Partnership (PPP) will lead the way to cut long-term healthcare costs, as is evident from outcomes in many Western nations. The dream of universal health coverage can be made a reality sooner by leveraging technology the way this mission intends.

This sort of patient-centric, IT-based solution could help everyone within the industry have a better handle on efficiency and managing claims. Fast, efficient data exchange and communication can be a win-win for both the patient as well as the health sector as a whole.

What is trending in patients’ homes will then be mimicked in corporations. Corporations that are providing health benefits and employee wellness programs will find that having a focus on digital health, will increase productivity while reducing illness-related loss in labor-hours will drop. This will then be followed by similar technology penetration as will start in people’s homes.

Digitization would mean fewer trips to the doctor for interventional care and the shift would be to periodic, predetermined visits. Patients will find that this sort of visit will lead to a healthier and longer lifespan – and as an added benefit – these visits will be easier on the pocket.

With a centralized digital system of patient health ID, app developers (such as our own upcoming Circee HealthWise app) can tap into other metadata of the patient and avoid unnecessary duplication and in exchange, provide valuable predictive information to the government about hotspots in the country that need attention.

Remote digital healthcare providing services always have a recurring issue of finding out precisely the most effective assistance to the patient. With a centralized Healthcare Professionals Registry (HPR) and Healthcare Facilities Registries (HFR), this issue can be altogether mitigated and patients could be put in touch directly with the closest HPR and/or HFR.

As I have maintained, new innovations in the form of IoT devices, to specialized instruments for telemedicine, to data analytics, will eye the same space – the patient’s home. Such forms of health technology penetration into people’s homes can also help the rural underserved areas of our country.

The move towards IT-based health solutions will also be able to address one of the major issues in India- that of non-adherence to the prescribed treatment regimens. A recent paper by Dr. Pooja Singh from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), reported as little as 50% or fewer adherences to prescription medications. Needless to say, this dismal rate can lead to further aggravation and cost of handling the disease burden which digitisation can help prevent.

It is time that we in the Indian healthcare system, leapfrog and embrace the benefits of IT in the health space. Doing so will help us in the health system as well as our primary objective – making our citizens healthy and keeping them there.

SpeeDx Build Further Coverage in SARS-CoV-2 Genotyping Reagent Portfolio

SpeeDx Pty. Ltd., a developer of innovative molecular diagnostic solutions, have further expanded their product line of research reagents for COVID-19 variant analysis to include a key characteristic mutation connected to the SARS-CoV-2 Lambda variant of interest (VOI). The PlexPrime® SARS-CoV-2 Genotyping* product line has rapidly expanded since launching in July, utilising the company’s unique universal substrate approach and patented multiplexing technology. The suite of products can be used independently or combined to support laboratory investigation and monitoring efforts of key SARS-CoV-2 variants of interest or concern.

“Rapid screening of positive samples with a PCR-based approach allows laboratories to easily monitor mutations as they circulate” said Dr Charles Cartwright, SpeeDx Senior Vice President of Clinical Affairs. “The individual mutations targeted with our suite of genotyping reagents have been carefully chosen to represent key lineage divergence, thus we are finding that even the latest emerging variants of interest and concern can be targeted for further analysis with our existing portfolio.”

PlexPrime® SARS-CoV-2 L452Q Lambda* is a single well mix designed to detect the L452Q spike mutation of SARS-CoV-2 found in the C.37 variant of interest (Lambda)1, in addition to an RdRp gene target of SARS-CoV-2. This reagent is the third product in the PlexPrime® SARS-CoV-2 Genotyping portfolio and can be used as a stand-alone reflex or combined with PlexPrime® SARS-CoV-2 Alpha/Beta/Gamma+, and/or the PlexPrime®P681R Delta reagents. Compatible with standard qPCR and liquid handling instrumentation, the PlexPrime® SARS-CoV-2 Genotyping will reduce the costs and manual processes for laboratories currently practicing high-volume sequence analysis.