All about Hepatitis

We are all extra cautious of what we eat, where we eat, our outdoor activities and hygiene factors in the monsoon. After all it is the rainy season, which brings many infections. But have you spared a thought on the largest organ in your body? Have you wondered how to take care of your skin this monsoon?

During this season, the air is high in moisture content and thus you need to take extra care for your skin. The dust particles in the air find an easy way to stick to your skin. Rains and humidity can make your skin look dull and expose you to bacterial and fungal infection.

Here are some tips to ensure you have a happy and pretty monsoon:

• Rain brings added moisture and many skin issues with it. Keep your skin clean but avoid using harsh soaps, instead try soaps made of  natural oils.
• Dryness of the skin is a result of lack of vitamins. In spite of the climate being rainy make sure you  drink as much water as you can through the day to hydrate your skin.
• Sunscreen lotion should be used even if it’s cloudy. Many people make the mistake of skipping sunscreen for a no sun day however, sun or no sun you must always use a sunscreen to avoid damage to the skin. During monsoon use sunscreen which is water resistant, oil free and rich in vitamin C.
• Always exfoliate your skin two-three times a week. Use a mild scrub that will gently remove dead skin cells and piled up dirt.
• It is advisable to avoid heavy make-up in this season. However if needed use waterproof or light make up only during the monsoon.
• People with dry to normal skin must use a toner.  It is ideal after washing your face with cold water and helps remove dirt.
• A good moisturising face mask just before going to bed helps get rid of flaky skin.
• Always wash your face, hands and feet as soon as you reach your home with lukewarm water. This makes you feel refreshed and stay healthy.
• If your skin is too oily, use a clay-based face mask twice a day to cleanse pores and remove excess oil from skin.
• Allow your feet to breathe. Wear open footwear as closed shoes can trap sweat and water that could lead to fungal and bacterial infections.
• Soaking the feet in warm or cold water can be very relaxing and reviving. Add a tablespoon of coarse salt, half a cup of lemon juice with a few drops of an essential oil like tea tree oil. It keeps the feet free from skin problems.

If you still have any skin concerns this season, please feel free to contact our Team of Dermatologists. Kindly see below link:

https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/departments/clinicaldepartments/dermatology.html

A stroke is a brain attack which occurs when blood flow to an area of the brain is cut off. A stroke is also called a cerebrovascular accident, CVA, or a “brain attack.”

When this happens, brain cells are deprived of oxygen and they stop working. This loss of blood supply can be ischemic because of lack of blood flow, or hemorrhagic because of bleeding into brain tissue.

A stroke is a medical emergency because strokes can lead to death or permanent disability. How a person is affected by stroke depends on where the stroke occurs in the brain and how much the brain is damaged. For someone it may be a temporary weakness of an arm or leg and for someone permanent paralysis of one side of their body.

The types of strokes include:

• Ischemic stroke (part of the brain loses blood flow)
• Hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding occurs within the brain)

Listed below are stroke symptoms to be watchful and proactive about:

• Trouble with speaking and understanding. One may experience confusion, slurring of words or have difficulty in understanding speech.
• Paralysis or numbness of the face, arm or leg.
• Trouble with seeing in one or both eyes, blurred or blackened vision.
• Headache. A sudden, severe headache, which may be accompanied by vomiting, dizziness or altered consciousness.
• Trouble with walking accompanied by dizziness, loss of balance or loss of coordination.

Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any signs or symptoms of a stroke, even if they seem to fluctuate or disappear.

Think “FAST” and do the following:

• Face. Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
• Arms. Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? Or is one arm unable to raise up?
• Speech. Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is his or her speech slurred or strange?
• Time. If you observe any of these signs, call for the medical emergency services. Don’t wait to see if the symptoms go away. Every minute counts. The longer a stroke goes untreated, the greater the potential for brain damage and disability.

Some factors which can increase your risk of a stroke:

• Being overweight or obese
• Physical inactivity
• Heavy or binge drinking
• Use of illicit drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamines
• High blood pressure
• Cigarette smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke.
• High cholesterol or Diabetes
• Cardiovascular disease, including heart failure, heart defects, heart infection or abnormal heart rhythm.
• Personal or family history of stroke or heart attack

Did you know?

• From the onset of symptoms, there is only a 3 to 4 1/2 hour window to use clot-busting drugs (thrombolytics) to try to restore blood supply to the affected part of the brain.

In worst scenarios below are some of the complications stroke may cause:

• Paralysis or loss of muscle movement. You may become paralyzed on one side of your body, or lose control of certain muscles, such as those on one side of your face or one arm.
• Difficulty in talking or swallowing. A stroke may cause you to have less control over the way the muscles in your mouth and throat move, making it difficult for you to talk clearly (dysarthria), swallow or eat (dysphagia).
• Memory loss or thinking difficulties. Many people who have had strokes experience some memory loss or have difficulty thinking, making judgments or understanding concepts.
• Emotional problems. People who have had strokes may have more difficulty controlling their emotions, or they may develop depression.
• Pain. People who have had strokes may have pain, numbness or other strange sensations in parts of their bodies affected by stroke.

The success of treating these complications varies from person to person.

Do you know someone suffering from stroke? For more details and treatment do visit the below link of our Centre for Neurosciences:

https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/departments/centresofexcellence/centrefor_neurosciences/stroke.html

The pleasant climate with the occasional showers makes you crave for some delicious food items. You may feel that now the hot humid days are gone and it is time to relish some savoury foods. You may be yearning for a plate full hot of fried snacks with your evening cup of tea and wouldn’t mind binging on some street food. Sadly, that is far from true. Monsoon is not a season to enjoy heart meals. It is a season filled with infections and diseases. It is important to eat healthy and nutritious meals and stay away from outside foods. Roadside food or meals prepared with low hygiene can hamper your health.

Listing below some precautions to take while relishing food this monsoon :

• Fresh fruits and their juices may look harmless to you. They are a strict no as vendors have fruits cut up well in advance, which could have come in contact with contaminated air. Always choose fresh juices prepared at home and consume it instantly.
• Fried food is one of the food items you should absolutely avoid this rainy season. The highly humid monsoon weather causes gastronomical complications like bloating and stomach upset. So as tempting as they look, avoid relishing that spread of pakodas, samosas and kachodi.
• The next food item is the popular roadside chaat especially the golgappas. The water used may be contaminated with bacteria which can cause severe infection. In fact this is a very common reason of many upset stomachs and food poisoning.
• Salty foods items are best avoided or eaten in moderation. Consuming too much salt could lead to fluid retention and other uneasy and harmful things such as sluggishness, unnecessary hunger pangs and feeling weighed down. Things may get spoiled further if you are a cholesterol and heart patient.
• The rains may make you very hungry and you might want to fill yourself with a heavy meal. Surprisingly, it is best to stay light this season. The joy of eating that comforting plate of roadside chola bhatura will only be momentary because of a vulnerable digestive system in the rains.
• Do not forget to maintain your personal hygiene this season. Eating meals with dirty unwashed hands may spread many germs, always use anti-bacterial solution or soap before every meal.
• The last in our list, yet the most important of all is contaminated water. Monsoon diseases are mostly waterborne, hence the caution. Always ensure that your water should either be purified or boiled. Ice from non-distilled water, kulfis and golas should be completely avoided.

Avoiding outside food limits your exposure to many germs which may lead to stomach infections. During monsoon it is advisable for the health of your family to have healthy meals. Precaution is always better then cure. Hoping you and your loved ones have a happy and healthy monsoon. Eat healthy and be safe ! In case of any stomach related monsoon ailments please feel free to contact our Gastroenterology department listed below: https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/departments/clinicaldepartments/gastroenterology.html