Happy Diwali!

Over the years as societies become more urbanised the needs of the masses changes, and so must the ways we celebrate our festivals. Diwali has become bigger, noisier and brighter with the ever increasing firecrackers. Over the years the health problems have also magnified. We must work towards a more eco-friendly celebration and wherein we are sensitive to our environment and society.

Bursting fireworks is a strange way to display our happiness. We must refrain from it and discourage our children too. Let us celebrate the festival of lights retaining it as a festival of joy without converting it into a public health problem.

Aftermath of Fireworks:

Air Pollution

Fireworks may seem exciting however they come with a host of illness triggers. During Diwali partially combusted low volatile organic compounds remain suspended in the atmosphere for several days. This is deadly for not just asthmatics, but causes breathing difficulties in anyone. Several crackers have multiple toxic chemicals like sulphur nitrates, magnesium, nitrogen dioxide increase, which are injurious to our respiratory passages.

Noise Pollution

‘Bombs’ are a favourite amongst many however they lead to immense noise pollution. A prolonged exposure to such high levels of noise can lead to permanent damage of the eardrums. Doctors get many cases wherein people who suffer holes in the eardrums not due to a direct injury, but the intense sound pressure of crackers.

Pet Care

Pets get very frightened with the loud noise of fireworks. It is advisable to keep your pets indoors and close all the curtains to make things calmer.

Child Exploitation

As most of you must be aware numerous children are employed by the firecracker industry. They work long hours and are exposed to harmful chemicals and acids. Their skin comes in constant contact with the acids and they also breathe harmful fumes.

Medical Injuries

Unfortunately injuries from fireworks spoil the fun for many families. Each year Diwali brings a fresh number of cases involving loss of eyesight and serious burns and injuries caused by fireworks. The most common reason is wrong handling of fireworks.

If you are one of those who will still continue to burst crackers this Diwali,then here are some precautions to follow:

• Keep a first aid box and a bucket of water or sand nearby to handle emergencies.
• While igniting Diwali aerial fireworks like rockets, ensure that they are not facing any opening like a window, door or an open building gate.
• Don’t burn crackers in crowded, congested places and narrow lanes.
• We must not let children burst crackers unaccompanied by an adult. Keep an eye on them constantly.
• Don’t try to examine un-burst crackers.. leave it!
• Avoid long loose clothes while bursting crackers, as they are fast in catching fire.
• Strictly avoid using matches and lighters for bursting crackers for Diwali as they have open flames that can be dangerous.
• Don’t keep your face close to the cracker while trying to light it
• In case of burns, pour large quantity of water on the burnt area.
• The patient should be taken to a burns specialist or a major hospital.
• In case of eye burns, wash the eye with tap water for 10 minutes and take the victim to a hospital.

Other safety precautions:

• The earthen lamps that we light on Diwali night are generally placed on balcony and window panes. Always ensure that these are not near any flammable material like wood, cloth or paper.
• Make sure the decorative lights should never be tied to any metal poles as any current leak can energize the pole and give a shock to anyone who touches the pole.

Diwali and Food

It is difficult to stay away from sweet temptations in the festive season. Let us try to adapt some small changes in our diet this Diwali .Use natural sweeteners like dates, jaggery, honey or figs in sweets instead of sugar or artificial sweeteners. The best time to eat sweets is either on an empty stomach or when the body is low on calories.

Stay away from packaged savouries as they contain trans-fats which can be very dangerous for our cholesterol levels. Make your savouries at home, you can also bake them instead of frying them to cut down on fat.

Wishing you all a very Happy and Safe Diwali! Stay healthy and Eat healthy this festive season. This Diwali in case of any medical emergencies please contact our team of doctors at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital. Our Full Time Specialist System ensures availability and access to the best medical talent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Certain incidents of eye injuries and burns occur during Diwali for which people need immediate medical relief. Please visit our website for more details: https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/

Osteoporosis, literally means ‘porous bone’, is a disease in which the bone mass and bone strength are reduced. As we get older, we are unable to replace the bone tissue as quickly as we lose it. Osteoporosis occurs when new bone formation does not match the bone loss. Osteoporosis is a common disease that makes the bones thinner and thus more likely to break.

Symptoms and signs

Osteoporosis can be present without any symptoms for decades as it doesn’t show any symptoms until a bone breaks (fractures). Surprisingly, some osteoporotic fractures may escape detection for years if they do not cause symptoms. Therefore, patients may not be aware of their osteoporosis until they suffer a painful fracture.

What Causes Osteoporosis?

Some risk factors which make you more susceptible to osteoporosis:

• Gender: Women get osteoporosis more often than men.
• Age: The older you are, the greater your risk of osteoporosis.
• Body size:. Small, thin women are at greater risk.
• Family history: If osteoporosis runs in the family you are more likely to get it.
• Sex hormones: Low estrogen levels due to missing menstrual periods or to menopause can cause osteoporosis in women. Low testosterone levels can bring on osteoporosis in men.
• Anorexia nervosa: This eating disorder can lead to osteoporosis.
• Calcium and vitamin D intake: A diet low in calcium and vitamin D makes you more prone to bone loss.
• Medication use: Some medicines increase the risk of osteoporosis.
• Activity level: Lack of exercise or long-term bed rest can cause weak bones.
• Smoking: Cigarettes are bad for bones, and the heart, and lungs, too.
• Drinking alcohol: Too much alcohol can cause bone loss and broken bones.

How Do I Know if I Have Osteoporosis?

If your are suffering any back ache, neck pain or muscle pain you must consult a doctor to see if a bone density test is needed. These scans use very small amounts of radiation to see how strong your bones are.

Treatments for Osteoporosis

Many osteoporosis treatments stop bone loss and lower your chances of fractures. Small changes in your diet and lifestyle along with medications help slow down bone loss or build new bone.

Tips to prevent Osteoporosis

Some healthy habits can help prevent osteoporosis and fractures:

• Healthy Lifestyle: Smoking is bad for bones as well as for the heart and lungs. Avoid excessive consumption of alcohol as it makes you more prone to bone loss.
• Exercise: It makes your bones and muscles stronger. Weight-bearing exercises, such as walking jogging, playing tennis, and dancing, are best for preventing osteoporosis when done regularly.
• Add calciumto your diet: Experts recommend 1,000 milligrams each day for women before menopause and 1,200 milligrams a day for those who’ve been through it. Milk and dairy products, fish,dark green, leafy vegetables, such as kale and broccoli are good sources of calcium.
• Supplement your diet: ;Its best to get calcium through the food you eat. But if you don’t get enough, ask your doctor if you need any calcium supplements.
• Vitamin D: Your body needs it to absorb calcium. You can get some of what you need by spending time in the sun, which prompts your body to make vitamin D.

Some facts of Osteoporosis

• Osteoporosis is a condition of fragile bone with an increased susceptibility to fracture.
• The diagnosis of osteoporosis can be suggested by X-rays and confirmed by tests to measure bone density.
• Osteoporosis is common in India, and high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among Indians is one of the major reasons for this condition.
• It is important to encourage children to drink milk and play in the sun so as to ensure adequate calcium intake and vitamin D synthesis.
• Peak bone density is reached at approximately 25 years of age. Therefore, it is important to build strong bones by this age so that the bones will remain strong later in life

Our specialised Osteoporosis Clinic at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital aims to prevent and treat osteoporosis through education, nutrition, physical therapy and medication. The primary goal is to prevent fractures by stopping or slowing the bone loss, maintaining bone strength and eliminating factors that contribute to falls. The clinic is managed by our team of specialists. We use our advanced technology and the latest DEXA machine to treat our osteoporosis patients.

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints which can affect one joint or multiple joints. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis. People of all age groups, sexes and races can suffer from arthritis. However it is commonly seen in adults over the age of 65. It is more common in women than men and obesity also plays a great role.

What causes arthritis?

Your cartilage is a firm but flexible connective tissue in your joints. It protects the joints by absorbing the pressure and shock created when you move and put stress on them. A reduction in the normal amount of this cartilage tissue cause some forms of arthritis.

Different types of arthritis:

• Degenerative Arthritis
  Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. When the cartilage – the slick, cushioning surface on the ends of bones wears away, bone rubs against bone, causing pain, swelling and stiffness. Over time, the joints may lose their strength and the pain can become chronic.
• Inflammatory Arthritis
  A healthy immune system protects you and acts against infections. But the immune system can at times go awry, mistakenly attacking the joints with uncontrolled inflammation and potentially causing joint erosion. Rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis are examples of inflammatory arthritis. Researchers believe that a combination of genetics and environmental factors can trigger autoimmunity.
• Infectious Arthritis
  A bacterium, virus or fungus can enter the joint and trigger inflammation. Examples of organisms that can infect joints are salmonella and shigel. Timely treatment with antibiotics may clear the joint infection, but sometimes the arthritis becomes chronic.
• Metabolic Arthritis
  Some people have high levels of uric acid because they naturally produce more than needed or the body can’t get rid of the uric acid quickly enough. In some people the uric acid builds up and forms needle-like crystals in the joint, resulting in sudden spikes of extreme joint pain, or a gout attack. This can become chronic, causing ongoing pain and disability.

Some symptoms of Arthritis

Common arthritis joint symptoms include swelling, pain, stiffness and decreased range of motion. Symptoms can be mild, moderate or severe. They may stay about the same for years or may also get worse over time. Severe arthritis can result in chronic pain, inability to do daily activities and make it difficult to walk or climb stairs. It can cause permanent joint changes.

Methods of diagnosis

Your doctor performs a physical check for fluid around the joints, warm or red joints, and limited range of motion in the joints. To determine the type of arthritis extracting and analyzing inflammation levels in your blood and joint fluids is needed. Doctors commonly use imaging scans such as X-ray, MRI, and CT scans to produce an image of your bones and cartilage.

Treatment of Arthritis

The main goal of treatment is to reduce the amount of pain the patient is experiencing and to prevent additional damage to the joints. Your doctor may prescribe you a combination of treatment methods to achieve the best results.

Surgery

One of the most popular and sought after treatments is surgery to replace your joint with an artificial joints. It is performed to replace hip and knee joints.

If your arthritis is severe in your fingers or wrists, your doctor may perform a joint fusion. In this procedure, the ends of your bones are locked together until they heal and become one.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy involves exercises that help strengthen the muscles around the affected joint and plays a core role in the treatment of arthritis.

Some suggested lifestyle changes for arthritis:

• Regular exercise will keep your joints flexible.
• Swimming is a great form of exercise as it doesn’t put pressure on your joints like running and walking.
• Avoid unnecessary overexertion and take rest when needed.
• Weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight reduce the risk of developing osteoarthritis, and can reduce symptoms if you already have it.
• Eating foods with lots of antioxidants can help reduce inflammation.

While it’s ideal to initiate treatment as early as possible, aggressive treatment throughout the course of the disease is essential, suggest experts. Are you or a dear one suffering from arthritis? Start treatment before it is too late. Consult our team of experts at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospitals’s Centre for Bone and Joint. For more details, visit our below website:

https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/departments/centresofexcellence/centrefor_boneandjoint.html