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Why Stroke Awareness Matters

Why Stroke Awareness Matters

Oct 29th, 2021

Archive for October, 2021

Why Stroke Awareness Matters

Friday, October 29th, 2021

One Indian suffers a brain stroke every 20 seconds, or three every minute, and the numbers are rising rapidly due to changing lifestyles! Around 1.54 million Indians are affected by a stroke each year at this rate, and the worst part is that 90% of stroke patients do not arrive at the hospital on time.

A stroke can happen to anyone, at anytime and anywhere. It occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts (or ruptures). When that happens, a section of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so it and brain cells die. Today stroke is the leading cause of disability worldwide and the second leading cause of death. Many stroke survivors face significant challenges that include physical disability, communication problems, changes in how they think and feel, loss of work, income, and social networks. In extreme cases, stroke may prove fatal too.

What are the Types of Stroke?

A stroke occurs due to a decrease or blockage in the brain’s blood supply. A person experiencing a stroke needs immediate emergency treatment. There are three main types of stroke:

  • Ischemic stroke
    This makes up to 87% of all cases. A blood clot prevents blood and oxygen from reaching an area of the brain.
  • Hemorrhagic stroke
    This occurs when a blood vessel ruptures. These are usually the result of aneurysms or arteriovenous malformations (AVMs).
  • Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
    This occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is inadequate for a brief period of time, and the symptoms resolve without treatment.

Warning Signs of Stroke

When you suffer a stroke, the blood supply to your brain is cut off. To avoid brain damage, incapacity, or even death, you must seek treatment as soon as possible. Watch out for these warning signs of stroke using the FAST test:

  • Face
    Smile and see if one side of the face droops.
  • Arms
    Raise both arms, are you noticing weakness?
  • Speech
    Check if the speech is slurring.
  • Time
    If the answer to any of these is yes, call emergency medical help.

If you think you or someone you know is suffering from a stroke you must contact our emergency services on
022 42699999.

Stroke Prevention Measures

Up to 90% of strokes could be prevented by addressing a small number of risk factors. These include:

  • Hypertension
    Monitor your blood pressure levels as untreated hypertension damages blood vessels and can lead to a number of serious diseases including stroke.
  • Exercise
    Just 30 minutes of exercise five times a week can reduce your risk of stroke by 25%. Be regular with your exercise regime.
  • Eat healthy
    Over half of the strokes are linked to a poor diet but making small dietary changes can help change this. Making healthy food choices will help maintain a healthy weight, reduce your blood pressure and lower your cholesterol, thus reducing your stroke risk.
  • Weight
    Being overweight is one of the top ten risk factors for stroke and is associated with almost 1 in 5 strokes. Maintaining a healthy weight will help you reduce your risk of stroke.
  • Atrial Fibrillation
    This is a condition where the heartbeat is irregular and often very fast. It is very important to know about atrial fibrillation and treat it as it may pose a major risk factor for stroke.
  • Smoking
    Smoking tobacco increases your risk of having a stroke by two times than a non-smoker. Quit smoking.
  • Alcohol
    Drinking too much alcohol may increase your risk of stroke, globally excessive alcohol consumption is linked to over 1 million strokes each year. Say “No” to alcohol.
  • Cholesterol
    Stroke is linked to high levels of LDL cholesterol. Cholesterol levels must be monitored regularly so that they can be managed with lifestyle changes or medication.
  • Diabetes
    1 in 5 people who have a stroke are diabetic and people with diabetes have poorer outcomes from stroke compared to others. Diabetes can be managed with medication, diet, and exercise.
  • Depression and stress
    Depression and stress are linked to almost two times greater risk of stroke particularly in adults who are middle-aged and older.

Stroke treatment at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital

A Stroke is a complex medical issue and minutes matter in treating stroke. Recognizing the signs of stroke early, treating it as a medical emergency with admission to a specialized stroke unit, and access to advanced medical care can substantially improve outcomes. The Stroke Unit at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital offers a comprehensive stroke care programme for the management of acute and chronic stroke patients and offers the fastest emergency care. The Multidisciplinary team of experts help in the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation care of stroke patients using high-end technological expertise. Please find below our website link for further information about our Centre for Neurosciences: https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/departments/centresofexcellence/centrefor_neurosciences/stroke.html

Know About Osteoporosis

Wednesday, October 20th, 2021

Just thinking about your relative who suffered a fracture in a minor fall? It’s possible that this was caused by osteoporosis. Osteoporosis affects an estimated 50 million Indians, however, the majority of them go undiagnosed and untreated. The world sees approximately one osteoporotic fracture every three seconds. Osteoporosis is a term that literally means “porous bone.” It is a condition where bones become thin and lose their strength, as they become less dense and their quality is reduced. This may lead to broken bones, which cause pain, disability, and make everyday activities extremely difficult.

Osteoporosis is a condition where the quality, quantity, and strength of your bones is reduced, making them more likely to break. One in three women and one in five men over the age of 50 will be affected by a bone fracture due to osteoporosis. Over 200 million people worldwide are affected by osteoporosis.

Symptoms of Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis develops when bone density decreases and the risk often increases with age. It usually causes no symptoms and is often called a silent disease Many people detect it when they suffer a broken bone from a minor fall or bump. Here are some of the common symptoms that must be noted and checked with a doctor:

  • Stooping back.
  • Loss of height.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Bone fractures.
  • Lower back pain.

How does Osteoporosis Develop?

Your bones develop and grow from birth to adulthood until they achieve peak bone mass in the early twenties, when they are at their strongest, densest, and least likely to fracture. Bone is regularly replaced throughout life, with new bone replacing old bone ones. But for people suffering from osteoporosis, more and more bone is lost and not replaced. This causes the bones to become brittle and more likely to break over time. Early diagnosis and treatment is important because one broken bone increases the risk of suffering yet more broken bones. Fractures due to osteoporosis have a devastating impact on millions of people worldwide and result in enormous socio-economic too.

Risk Factors of Osteoporosis

If you are over the age of 50 and you have one or more risk factors you should discuss these with your doctor and ask for an assessment of your bone health status. Lifestyle changes may be recommended and, for those at high risk, medication may be prescribed for optimal protection against fractures. These factors highly increase your risk of osteoporosis:

  • Women over the age of 50 years.
  • Thin and small body frame.
  • Family history of osteoporosis.
  • Smoking.
  • Excessive alcohol consumption.
  • Lack of exercise.
  • Diet low in calcium.
  • Certain medical conditions.
  • Insufficient intake of vitamin D.

Protect your Bone Health

Though osteoporosis usually occurs in older people, its underlying causes can stretch back to childhood. Your lifestyle, your dietary habits, family history and even certain medications can all adversely impact bone health. Here are a few steps to take for healthy bones:

  • Exercise regularly
    Weight-bearing, muscle-strengthening, and balance-training exercises are highly recommended.
  • Eat a healthy diet
    Calcium, vitamin D and protein are the most important for bone health. Get safe exposure to sunlight too for sufficient vitamin D.
  • Avoid negative lifestyle habits
    Maintain a healthy body weight, avoid smoking and say no to alcohol.
  • Know your family history
    If you have a family history of osteoporosis, you must discuss it with your doctor and take preventive steps.
  • Get tested
    It is important to get your bone density checked and take medication or make lifestyle changes if required.

Treatment at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital

Our Centre for Bone & Joint is a comprehensive centre dedicated to bone, muscle, and joint health. It provides a wide range of care that includes diagnostic care, bone density tests, medication, physiotherapy, dietary guidance, and preventive care. We help you or your family reduce the risk of and manage osteoporosis better. Our goal is to assist our patients in living a more pleasant life while easing their symptoms. Our specialists have access to cutting-edge technology and offer the most advanced multidisciplinary treatments. Please find below the website link for further information: https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/departments/centresofexcellence/centrefor_bonejoint.html

Protect Your Mental Health

Saturday, October 9th, 2021

Feeling very low or disturbed? Extreme mood changes, feelings of anger, worry or guilt are not normal. These need to be discussed with your doctor. Mental illness affects 1 out of every 7 Indians. According to the World Health Organization, 56 million Indians suffer from depression and another 38 million Indians suffer from anxiety disorders. Your emotional, psychological, and social well-being all make up your mental health and impact the way you think, feel, and act.

The theme for 2021 ‘Mental Health in an Unequal World’ wants the world to focus sufficiently on health beyond physical health. The pandemic has caused an immense impact on the mental health of people across age groups as well as disrupted the existing mental health services too. Let us come together and increase the awareness around mental health and the importance of seeking timely medical care. Early identification of symptoms and prompt medical assistance can help reduce the severity of a mental illness.

Types of Mental Disorders

The term “mental disorders” is used to describe a wide range of mental and behavioural illnesses that appear in various ways. They are generally characterised by a combination of abnormal thoughts, emotions, perceptions, behaviour and relationships with others. Disorders can range from mild to severe and can affect people of every sex, age, gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic group. Here are some of the most frequent mental illnesses:

  • Depression:
    Chronic depression is a debilitating illness that usually reoccurs throughout a person’s lifetime. Symptoms include fatigue, lack of concentration, changes in appetite and thoughts of suicide. Some other forms of depression include seasonal affective disorder and postpartum depression.
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD):
    General disorders on autism include autistic disorder, Asperger’s syndrome and atypical autism.
  • Schizophrenia:
    Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that can cause people to have delusions, hallucinate or show no emotion at all.
  • Bipolar Disorder:
    Bipolar disorder is one of several mood disorders that leave people with emotions swinging from very high (manic) to hazardously low (depressive).
  • Anxiety Disorders:
    Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health condition and include OCD, panic attacks and phobias.
  • Eating Disorders:
    Bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder are marked by extreme behaviours, which usually are rooted in complex biological and psychological causes.

Symptoms of Mental Disorders

Medical research suggests that early intervention can help minimize or delay the symptoms, prevent hospitalization and improve the prognosis of mental health conditions. Here are some signs that need further medical investigation:

  • Withdrawal from friends and family
  • Extreme and long-lasting sadness
  • Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy
  • High and low extremes of emotion
  • Big changes in sleeping or eating habits
  • Excessive anger
  • Drug or alcohol abuse

Mental Disorders – Myths & Facts

Here are some common myths and facts that mislead people. Ask questions, know the facts, consult medical experts if needed:

Myth: Children don’t experience mental health problems.
Fact: That is not true, very young children may also show early warning signs of mental health disease. They are often clinically diagnosable and occur due to biological, psychological, and social factors.

Myth: People with a mental illness cannot have a job.
Fact: People with mental health disorders are as productive as other employees. In fact, they report good attendance and punctuality as well as excellent motivational levels.

Myth: Mental health disorders last a lifetime.
Fact: A good treatment plan helps you work through the problem and recover. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the problem has gone away. But you can definitely manage it better and live an improved life.

Myth: Mental health problems are a sign of weakness.
Fact: Mental illness has nothing to do with your physical or emotional strength or weakness. It is a medical disorder that needs treatment, in the same way, infection or fracture would.

Myth: Psychiatric medications are bad.
Fact: Many people believe that psychiatric medicine is harmful. Just like any other detrimental medical condition, mental illness requires medication. Regular therapy combined with medication can greatly improve one’s quality of life.

Treatment at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital

It is important to understand that mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety and chronic stress frequently necessitate specialised therapy and treatment. These disorders may worsen over time if you don’t get help right once, and they can have a significant negative impact on your health and quality of life.

Highly trained and experienced specialists at our Department of Psychiatry offer therapeutic and counselling services to people with mental health disorders. Our skilled team use a variety of tried-and-tested therapy approaches to help you overcome mental health difficulties, minimise symptoms, and take steps toward a robust and long-term recovery. All treatment is individually tailored according to your unique needs and requirements, allowing us to achieve the best potential post-treatment results. Please visit our website for further information: https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/departments/clinicaldepartments/psychiatry.html