February 2019 Archives

Archive for February, 2019

The Ideal Diabetic Diet

Thursday, February 28th, 2019

Diabetes is a condition characterised by elevated blood sugar levels. It is currently one of the leading metabolic disorders around the world. As per the Lancet report, Type-2 Diabetes is expected to rise by more than a fifth, from 406 million in 2018 to 511 million in 2030 globally. About 98 million Indians are likely to be diagnosed with diabetes by the year 2030. Type 2 Diabetes could be managed and prevented by eating a healthy diet and leading healthy lifestyle.

Understanding how food affects your blood sugar:

Food has a direct effect on blood glucose. Some foods raise blood glucose more than others. An important part of managing diabetes is knowing what and how much to eat, and following an eating plan that fits your lifestyle while helping to control blood glucose. The 3 main nutrients found in foods are carbohydrates (carbs), proteins and fats.

Carbohydrates (carbs)

Carbs are the starches, sugar and fiber in foods such as grains, fruits, vegetables, milk products and sweets. They raise blood glucose faster and higher than other nutrients in foods: proteins and fats. Knowing what foods contain carbs and the amount of carbs in a meal is helpful for blood glucose control. Choosing carbs from healthy sources like vegetables, fruits and whole grains (high fiber) are preferred over carbs from sources with added sugars, fat and salt.

Proteins

Proteins are a necessary part of a balanced diet and can keep you from feeling hungry. They do not directly raise your glucose like carbs. However, to prevent weight gain, use portion control with proteins. In people with Type 2 diabetes, protein makes insulin work faster, so it may not be a good idea to treat low blood sugar with protein shakes or mixes.

Fats

Fats are necessary part of a balanced diet, especially healthy fats from fatty fish, nuts and seeds. They do not raise blood glucose but are high in calories and can cause weight gain.

Aim to include all 3 nutrients to balance your meals.

Planning a Diabetes Diet

A diabetic diet doesn’t have to be complicated and you don’t have to give up all your favourite foods. Here are a few health tips for planning an ideal Diabetic diet:

1. Eat more

Healthy fats from nuts, olive oil, fish oils, flax seeds, or avocados.
Fruits and vegetables—ideally fresh, the more colourful the better; whole fruit rather than juices.
Whole grains and millets.
High-fiber cereals and breads made from whole grains.
High-quality protein such as eggs, beans, low-fat dairy, and unsweetened yogurt.

2. Eat less

Trans fats from partially hydrogenated or deep-fried foods.
Packaged and fast foods, especially those high in sugar, baked goods, sweets, chips, desserts.
Foods made from refined flour – bread =, noodles or pastas.
Processed meat and red meat.
Low-fat products that have replaced fat with added sugar, such as fat-free yogurt.

3. Be smart about sweets

Eating a diabetic diet doesn’t mean eliminating sugar altogether, but like most of us, chances are you consume more sugar than is healthy. If you have diabetes, you can still enjoy a small serving of your favourite dessert now and then. The key is moderation.

Tricks for cutting down on sugar:

Reduce soft drinks, soda and juice.
Don’t replace saturated fat with sugar.
Sweeten foods yourself.
Check labels and look for products with hidden sugar.
Avoid processed or packaged foods.
Reduce the amount of sugar in recipes by ¼ to ⅓.
Find healthy ways to satisfy your sweet tooth.

3. Be careful with Alcohol

Do not underestimate the calories and carbs in alcoholics drinks including beer and wine. Cocktails mixed with soda and juice can be loaded with sugar. Liquid calories can also spike up your blood sugar levels.

4. Choose fats wisely

Some fats are unhealthy and others have enormous health benefits, so it’s important to choose fats wisely.

Unhealthy fats. The most damaging fats are artificial trans fats, which make vegetable oils less likely to spoil. Avoid commercially-baked goods, packaged snack foods, fried food, and anything with “partially hydrogenated” oil in the ingredients, even if it claims to be trans fat-free.
Healthy fats. The healthiest fats are unsaturated fats, which come from fish and plant sources such as olive oil, nuts, and avocados. Omega-3 fatty acids fight inflammation and support brain and heart health. Good sources include salmon, tuna, and flaxseeds.
Saturated fats. Found mainly in tropical oils, red meat, and dairy, there’s no need to completely eliminate saturated fat from your diet—but rather, enjoy in moderation.

5. Eat regularly and keep a food diary

It’s encouraging to know that you only have to lose 7% of your body weight to cut your risk of diabetes in half. And you don’t have to obsessively count calories or starve yourself to do it. Two of the most helpful strategies involve following a regular eating schedule and recording what you eat.

Are you suffering from Diabetes? Consult our team of Nutritionists who can guide you with personalised diet plans to control your Diabetes and lead a normal life. Please find below link for more details:

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

Struggling With Infertility?

Tuesday, February 19th, 2019

What is Infertility?

Infertility can take a toll on your life emotionally and may hamper your relationship with your spouse too. Most people will have a strong desire to conceive a child at some point during their lifetime. Understand what defines normal fertility, this helps you know when to seek medical help. Approximately 85 % of couples will achieve pregnancy within one year of trying. Infertility is defined when couples are unable to conceive a child, even though they’ve had frequent, unprotected sexual intercourse for a year or longer. Up to 15 per cent of couples are infertile. In over a third of these couples, male infertility plays a role.

Infertility can be caused due to factors affecting the female or the male partner.

Female Infertility

Here are a few common reasons in women that lead to Infertility:

1) Advancing maternal age: Female age-related infertility is the most common cause of infertility today. For unknown reasons, as women age, egg numbers decrease at a rapid rate. And as ageing occurs, egg quality, or the likelihood of an egg being genetically normal, decreases as well.

2) Ovulation disorders: Normal and regular ovulation, or release of a mature egg, is essential for women to conceive naturally. There are many disorders that may impact the ability for a woman to ovulate normally.

3) Tubal occlusion (blockage): A history of sexually transmitted infections including chlamydia, gonorrhea, or pelvic inflammatory disease can predispose a woman to have blocked fallopian tubes. Tubal occlusion is a cause of infertility because an ovulated egg is unable to be fertilized by sperm or to reach the endometrial cavity.

4) Uterine fibroids: Fibroids are very common (approximately 40% of women may have them) and the mere presence alone does not necessarily cause infertility. The size and position of the fibroid determine its effects on your pregnancy.

5) Endometrial polyps: Endometrial polyps are finger-like growths in the uterine cavity arising from the lining of the uterus, called the endometrium. They can decrease fertility by up to 50% according to some studies.

6) Endometriosis: Endometriosis is a condition whereby cells very similar to the ones lining the uterine cavity, or endometrium, are found outside the uterine cavity. It is found in approximately 10-50% of reproductive-aged women and can be associated with infertility as well as pain during intercourse and/or menstrual periods.

Quick Facts About Infertility

Infertility is a disease of the reproductive system that impairs the body’s ability to perform the basic function of reproduction.
Infertility affects men and women equally.
Twenty-five per cent of infertile couples have more than one factor that contributes to their infertility.
In approximately 40 per cent of infertile couples, the male partner is either the sole cause or a contributing cause of infertility.
Irregular or abnormal ovulation accounts for approximately 25 per cent of all female infertility problems.
Most infertility cases — 85% to 90% — are treated with conventional medical therapies such as medication or surgery.
It is possible for women with body weight disorders to reverse their infertility by attaining and maintaining a healthy weight.
Men and Women who smoke have decreased fertility.
The risk of miscarriage is higher for pregnant women who smoke.

Male Infertility:

Male infertility is due to erectile dysfunction, low sperm production, abnormal sperm function or blockages that prevent the delivery of sperm. Illnesses, injuries, hormonal imbalances, chronic health problems, lifestyle choices and other factors can play a role in causing male infertility. The semen analysis is one of the main tests to evaluate the male partner.

Factors that determine male fertility:

You must produce healthy sperms and sufficient semen volume.
There needs to be higher sperm concentration to increase chances of conception.
Sperm must have the motility to be able to move for conception to happen.
The sperm morphology or shape determines its ability to fertilize the egg.

Risk factors linked to male infertility include:

Smoking tobacco.
Using alcohol.
Using certain illicit drugs.
Being overweight.
Being severely depressed or stressed.
Having certain past or present infections.
Being exposed to toxins.
Overheating the testicles.
Having experienced trauma to the testicles.
Having a prior vasectomy or major abdominal or pelvic surgery.
Having a history of undescended testicles.
Being born with a fertility disorder or having a blood relative with a fertility disorder.
Certain medications.

Fertility treatments for females:

Fertility drugs and hormones to help the woman ovulate or restore levels of hormones.
Surgery to remove tissue that is blocking fertility (such as endometriosis) or to open blocked fallopian tubes.

Here are a few assisted reproductive technology or ART treatments used for male as well as female infertility problems:

IUI (intrauterine insemination): Sperm is collected and the placed directly inside the woman’s uterus while she is ovulating.
IVF (in vitro fertilization): The sperm and egg are collected and brought together in a lab. The fertilized egg grows for 3 to 5 days. Then the embryo is placed in the woman’s uterus.
GIFT (gamete intrafallopian transfer) and ZIFT (zygote intrafallopian transfer): The sperm and egg are collected, brought together in a lab, and quickly placed in a fallopian tube. With GIFT, the sperm and eggs are placed into the fallopian tube. With ZIFT, a fertilized egg is placed into the tube at 24 hours.

Are you getting sleepless nights due to your infertility issues?

Are you waiting for your parenting journey to start?

Consult our Reproductive Endocrinologists for in-depth knowledge of your medical condition and how best it can be overcome. Our team offers the latest fertility treatments along with counselling support. Please find below link for further details:

https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/departments/clinicaldepartments/reproductiveendocrinologyfertility/reproductiveendocrinologyandinfertilityrei.html

All About Epilepsy

Monday, February 11th, 2019

What is Epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder in which the normal chemical and electrical activities between nerve cells in the brain (neurons) become disturbed. This disturbance causes the neurons to fire abnormally, causing seizures. In a seizure, many neurons fire at the same time, much faster than usual — up to 500 times a second.

People often think of epileptic seizures as causing muscle spasms or loss of consciousness, but some seizures can instead cause sudden emotions, sensations, or behaviours that may seem inappropriate and may not be initially recognized as caused by epilepsy.

What happens in a seizure?

Some people with epilepsy stare off into space or make strange sounds during a seizure. Some people may undress, laugh, or walk in circles. Depending on the part of the brain affected and the severity of the disturbance in the brain, epileptic seizures can range from relatively benign events that happen rarely to recurrent, disabling, life-threatening emergencies. Regardless of the seizure type, a person generally must have had at least two “unprovoked” seizures at least 24 hours apart to be diagnosed with epilepsy. Unprovoked means the seizures have no other known medical cause apart from Epilepsy.

Epilepsy symptoms

The main symptom of epilepsy is repeated seizures. Here are a few symptoms which need medical attention:

a convulsion with no fever.
short spells of a blackout, or confused memory.
intermittent fainting spells.
for a short period, the person is unresponsive to instructions or questions.
the person becomes stiff, suddenly, for no apparent reason.
the person suddenly falls for no clear reason.
for a short time the person seems dazed and unable to communicate.
repetitive movements that seem inappropriate.
the person becomes fearful, angry or may panic without reason.
peculiar changes in senses, such as smell, touch, and sound.
the arms, legs, or body jerk, in babies these will appear as a cluster of rapid jerking movements.

Seizure Triggers:

Here are some of the seizure triggers that are commonly reported by people with epilepsy:

Stress.
Alcohol and recreational drugs.
Not taking epilepsy medicine as prescribed.
Feeling tired and not sleeping well.
Flashing or flickering lights.
Monthly periods.
Missing meals.
Track your triggers and avid these situations to avoid seizures.

Causes of Epilepsy

For up to 60 percent of people with epilepsy, the cause is not known, even with a complete medical evaluation. For the rest, here are a few major reasons that may cause Epilepsy:

Genetic mutations.
Structural changes in the brain due to trauma, infection or stroke.
Birth defect.
Infections of the central nervous system.

Few Epilepsy Facts:

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder.
Primary symptoms commonly include seizures.
Seizures have a range of severity depending on the individual.
Treatments include anti-seizure medications.

Someone around you suffering an Epileptic seizure?

Some Do’s:

Move any objects, such as furniture, away from them so that they don’t hurt themselves.
Put something soft under their head to stop it hitting the ground.
Call emergency medical help if needed.
Try to stop other people crowding around.
Stay with them until they have fully recovered.

Some Don’ts:

Do not restrain (try to hold down) the person.
Do not place anything between the person’s teeth during a seizure.
Do not move the person unless they are in danger.
Do not try to make the person stop convulsing. They have no control over the seizure and are not aware of what is happening at the time.

It is estimated that there are 12 million people with Epilepsy in India. The right diagnosis and treatment can help people with Epilepsy live better. Consult our Centre for Neurosciences for Epilepsy treatment. Please find below link for more details:

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

World Cancer Day

Monday, February 4th, 2019

Cancer refers to any one of a large number of diseases characterized by the development of abnormal cells that divide uncontrollably and have the ability to infiltrate and destroy normal body tissue. Cancer often has the ability to spread throughout your body.

Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the world. But survival rates are improving for many types of cancer, due to improvements in cancer screening and cancer treatment.

Cancer Symptoms:

Cancer can cause many different symptoms. These are some of them:

Skin changes, such as:

A new mole or a change in an existing mole.
A sore that does not heal.

Breast changes, such as:

Change in size or shape of the breast or nipple.
Change in the texture of breast skin.

A thickening or lump on or under the skin.
Hoarseness or a cough that does not go away.
Changes in bowel habits.
Difficult or painful urination.
Problems with eating, such as:

Discomfort after eating, a hard time swallowing, changes in appetite

Weight gain or loss with no known reason.
Abdominal pain.
Unexplained night sweats.
Unusual bleeding or discharge, including:

Blood in the urine, vaginal bleeding, blood in the stool

Feeling weak or very tired

What causes Cancer?

Cancer is caused by changes (mutations) to the DNA within cells. The DNA inside a cell is packaged into a large number of individual genes, each of which contains a set of instructions telling the cell what functions to perform, as well as how to grow and divide. Errors in the instructions can cause the cell to stop its normal function and may allow a cell to become cancerous.

Risk factors:

Here is a list some common risk factor which highly increases your chance of getting cancer:

Smoking – Cigarette smoke contains hundreds of toxic chemicals. Of those chemicals, about 70 can cause cancer. Smoking as well as being exposed to second-hand smoke increases your risk of cancer.
Obesity – Extra fat tissue produces excess amounts of estrogen and other hormones that may stimulate cell growth and proliferation (the more often cells divide, the more opportunities cancer has to develop). Obesity may also cause chronic inflammation, which over time can damage DNA and is one of the things that cause cancer.
Age – One-quarter of new cancer cases are diagnosed in people between age 65 and 74, according to the National Cancer Institute. Getting old highly increases your chance of getting cancer.
Sedentary lifestyle – Spending more time sitting for work or leisure highly increases your chance of getting cancer as compared to others who lead active lives.
Alcohol – Limit your alcohol intake. One unit for women, two for men: that’s the recommended daily limit if you choose to drink alcohol. The more alcohol you consume, the higher your risk of developing certain cancers: specifically that of the head and neck, oesophagus, liver, and breast.
Hereditary – If your mother, father, or siblings were diagnosed with any form of cancer than it’s a sign that it may be caused by an abnormal gene that you may have inherited. Overall, inherited mutations result in only about 5 to 10 per cent of all cancers.

Prevent Cancer:

Here are a few ways how changing your lifestyle and eating habits can help prevent cancer:

Be as lean as possible without becoming underweight.
Be physically active for at least 30 minutes every day.
Avoid sugary drinks, and limit consumption of high-calorie foods, especially those low in fiber and rich in fat or added sugar.
Eat more of a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes (such as beans).
Limit consumption of red meats (including beef, pork, and lamb) and avoid processed meats.
If you drink alcohol, limit your daily intake to two drinks for men and one drink for women.
Limit consumption of salty foods and food processed with salt (sodium).
It’s best for mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies for up to six months and then add other liquids and foods.
After treatment, cancer survivors should follow the recommendations for cancer prevention.

Cancer facts in India:

There are more than 100 types of cancers; almost any part of the body can be affected.
The five most frequent cancers (ranking defined by the total number of cases) in India between men and women are breast, cervical, oral cavity, lung, and colorectal. These top five account for 47.2 per cent of all cancers
Cancer is the second most common cause of death in India (after cardiovascular disease).
Use of tobacco products (eg smoking cigarettes) is the single most preventable cause of death worldwide. As many as 2,500 persons die every day due to tobacco-related diseases in India.
One woman dies every 8 minutes in India from cervical cancer, which is more than any country. Rural women have more risk than their urban counterparts.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in India and accounts for about a quarter of all cancers in women in Indian cities.
The WHO data says India will have 1.16 million new cancer cases in 2018.

Our Cancer centre is equipped with high-end technologies like:

EDGE Radiosurgery system, Asia’s first equipment which enables precise, non-invasive treatments helping patients heal faster with less discomfort.
We are the first hospital in India to have Novalis TX machine, which performs high precision surgeries to remove deep-seated tumours.
We have the first Trilogy (linear accelerator) in India, which is capable of performing on-board CT scan, KV and MV imaging with respiratory gating systems.

Consult our highly experienced and expert oncologists for any cancer diagnosis or treatment. Please find below link for more details:

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

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