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World Blood Donor Day

Give The Gift of Life, Donate Blood

Jun 13th, 2022

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Give The Gift of Life, Donate Blood

Monday, June 13th, 2022

Every Indian has a moral obligation to donate blood and participate in voluntary blood donation camps. Statistics suggest that India is in requirement of blood transfusion every two seconds. Blood should be waiting for the patient rather than the patient waiting for blood, as it is often too late to find a donor. It is the responsibility of the entire community to keep blood banks full all the time.

In India, access to safe blood has been a persistent issue for many years. Every year, around 11 million blood donations are collected in India, compared to the required 13.5 million for the country’s 1.35 billion population (1%), leaving a shortfall of nearly 2 million. Blood shortages may prove detrimental to those who need an urgent supply of blood such as those with thalassaemia, victims of road accidents, and bleeding during pregnancy and childbirth. With increased awareness and participation together we can increase the blood donation numbers.

Why Blood Donation is important?

There is a constant need for a regular supply of blood as it can be stored only for a limited period of time before use. A sufficient number of healthy people must donate blood on a regular basis to ensure that blood is always available whenever and wherever it is required. Apart from road accidents, patients also require blood for cancer treatment, orthopaedic surgery, cardiovascular surgeries, childbirth and for inherited blood disorders.

Who is eligible to Donate Blood?

Adults who are in good health can donate blood on a regular basis — once every three months. Speak to your doctor if you have any doubts about blood donation. To become a blood donor, there are a few basic standards that must be met, these include:

  • Weight should not be less than 45 kgs.
  • Age should be between 18 and 65.
  • Blood pressure, pulse and temperature should be normal.
  • Haemoglobin should be not less than 12.5 grams.
  • The donor should not have had any immunization in 15 days preceding the blood donation.
  • No tattoos should have been done anywhere on the body for 1 year.
  • The donor should not be having any form of cancer.
  • The donor must not be suffering from any infectious diseases
  • Some medications may prevent a person from donating blood.
  • Breastfeeding women cannot donate blood.

Facts about Blood Donation

Here are a few important things to note about blood donations:

  • A single pint of blood can help save up to 3 patients.
  • Donating blood is a safe process and a new sterile needle is used for each donor.
  • The average adult has about 10 units of blood in his body and about 1 unit is given during a donation.

Precautions before a Blood Donation  

Have you signed up to make a blood donation? Follow these healthy tips for a comfortable and healthy experience:

  • Eat iron-rich foods that include red meat, eggs, whole grains, and dark green vegetables like spinach starting a week or two before you donate.
  • Get plenty of sleep the night before you plan to donate.
  • Eat a healthy meal before your donation.
  • Increase your fluid intake not only on the day of your donation, but also on the day before and the day after. This will help you stay hydrated.
  • Check to see if any medications you are taking or recently took would prevent you from donating.
  • Wear a shirt or a top with short sleeves.

Precautions after a Blood Donation   

A person can resume daily activities within a few hours of donating blood. Here are a few additional tips for better recovery:

  • Keep your bandage on for a minimum of 4 hours.
  • Make sure that you eat or drink something before you leave the Blood donation camp.
  • You must drink extra fluids in the first 4 hours following a blood donation and continue it for the next few days.
  • For the next 12 hours after a blood donation, avoid lifting of heavy objects and performing any kind of strenuous exercises.
  • If you experience any kind of dizziness, please sit down and place your head between your knees or lie down with your legs elevated. Remain in this position till you feel better.
  • If you notice any swelling, consult your doctor for further assistance.
  • Avoid smoking and consumption of alcohol after giving blood.

Blood Donation at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital

This “World Blood Donor Day” be a part of this noble deed and visit our Blood Bank for making a blood donation. The Blood Bank at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment that uses advanced techniques for processing and screening of blood and its components. All the donated units are screened for infectious diseases before the transfusion. Feel free to visit us or call us on +91-22-30937293 for any blood donation queries. Refer the below link for further details: https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/departments/clinicaldepartments/transfusionmedicine.html

5 Things You Must Know About Brain Tumours

Tuesday, June 7th, 2022

There has been an increase in the incidence of brain tumours in India over the years. About 50,000 new cases are reported each year, out of which 20% occur in children. There are over 120 different types of brain and central nervous system tumours all showing different symptoms and requiring different treatment options. This #WorldBrainTumourDay let us understand and spread awareness about some important things about Brain tumours:

1. What is a Brain Tumour?

A brain tumour is a growth or mass of cells that has grown abnormally in or around your brain. The spinal tumours and brain tumours together are called central nervous system (CNS) tumours. Some tumours grow quickly, while others take their time to develop. Brain tumours, whether malignant or not, can have an influence on your health and brain function if they grow large enough to push on surrounding nerves, blood vessels, and tissue.

There are two general groups of brain tumours:

  • Primary brain tumours start in the brain and tend to stay there.
  • Secondary brain tumours are more common and start somewhere else in your body and travel to the brain. Lung, breast, colon and kidney, cancers are among the most common cancers that spread to your brain.

Grades of Brain Tumours

Tumours are graded by how normal or abnormal the cells look. The grading also gives you an idea of how fast the tumour may grow and spread and helps oncologists determine your treatment plan. The grades of tumours include:

  • Grade 1.
    These cells look nearly normal and grow slowly. Long-term survival is likely.
  • Grade 2.
    These cells look slightly abnormal and grow slowly. The tumour may spread to nearby tissue and can come back, maybe at a more life-threatening grade.
  • Grade 3.
    These cells look abnormal and are actively growing into nearby brain tissue. These tumours tend to come back.
  • Grade 4.
    These cells look most abnormal and grow and spread quickly.

2. Malignant and benign brain tumors

Your doctor will conduct a thorough examination on your brain tumour to determine if it’s malignant or benign. This will help determine an appropriate treatment strategy. Some brain tumours are noncancerous (benign), while some brain tumours are cancerous (malignant). The term “malignant” refers to a tumour that is made up of cancer cells. These cells have the ability to infiltrate neighbouring tissues. Some cancer cells have the ability to travel via the circulation and lymph nodes. They can then spread to other organs and tissues in the body. The majority of dangerous tumours grow quickly, but the majority of benign tumours do not. There are, however, cases of both slow-growing malignant tumours and fast-growing noncancerous tumours. A benign tumour can grow to be fairly large, but it will not migrate to other parts of your body or invade neighbouring tissue.

3. Brain tumours in children 

Paediatric brain tumours are abnormal cell masses or growths that develop in a child’s brain or nearby tissue and structures. The type of tumour, its location within the brain, whether it has spread, and your child’s age and overall health all influence treatment and prognosis. If your child is showing any signs of a brain tumour, you must get it investigated. Treatment for brain tumours in children is typically quite different from treatment for adult brain tumours, so it’s very important to enlist the expertise and experience of paediatric oncology specialists.

4. How early detection helps?

The ability to detect a brain tumour earlier, when it is smaller, reduces the impact of surgery and treatment, improving the prognosis for all patients. Some early tumours may have signs and symptoms that can be noticed, but this is not always the case. Do not ignore any unusual signs of symptoms such as persistent headaches, seizures, balance problems or vision changes.

5. Treatment options available 

Your brain tumour treatment depends on the type of brain tumour you have, as well as its size and location. The standard treatment for brain tumour includes surgery, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy. Generally, radiation and chemotherapy treatments are used as secondary treatments for tumours. However, in rare cases, radiation and chemotherapy may be used without surgery if the tumour is inoperable.

Do you know someone suffering from this condition? Meet our dedicated team of neurosurgeons, medical oncologists, paediatric oncologists and radiation oncologist specialised in Neurooncolgy at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital. Our Centre for Neurosciences is best equipped to treat brain tumours with great surgical expertise and advanced technologies. Our team also uses the latest operative advances with navigation, awake surgery techniques, neurophysiology monitoring with MEP and SSEP, radiosurgery and stereotactic radiotherapy.

The Department of Neurosciences is headed by Dr. Abhaya Kumar who has great expertise in treating Brain Tumours and conducting minimally invasive spine surgeries. He has successfully preformed over 2000 brain tumour surgeries in the past. He is one of the few neurosurgeons who is skilled in both brain and spine surgery. His success rate in treating brain tumours is 90%, with residual tumour in only 10% of patients. This is in line with international standards. He has also performed over 300 Awake Neurosurgery procedures. For further assistance on brain tumour care, please visit our below website link: https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/departments/centresofexcellence/centrefor_neurosciences/braintumor.html

Health Risks of Tobacco Use

Monday, May 30th, 2022

People who smoke die 10 years earlier than those who have never smoked. Smoking and tobacco use causes toxic substances to enter your lungs and spread throughout your body. Toxic chemicals in tobacco smoke reach your brain, heart, and other organs within 10 seconds after your first puff. Tobacco consumption is harmful to practically every part of your body and raises your risk of developing a variety of ailments. Quitting reduces your risk of tobacco induced diseases and can extend your life by several years.

Did you know?

Tobacco use is the one risk factor shared by 4 of the main categories of non-communicable disease. These include cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic lung disease and diabetes.Statistic suggest that tobacco smoke increases the risk for coronary heart disease by 2 to 4 times!Every year health organizations around the world celebrate World No Tobacco Day on 31st May and get together to raise awareness on the harmful effects of tobacco use and to discourage the use of all forms of tobacco.

Tobacco use and cancer

Smokeless tobacco increases the risk of oral cancer whereas smoking is the causebehind a majority of the lung cancer cases. Cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, beedi and pipes can all cause cancer. There is no safe form of tobacco. Additionally, tobacco use also increases the risk for cancers of the: 

  • Larynx (voice box).
  • Pharynx (throat).
  • Cervix.
  • Breast.
  • Esophagus.
  • Kidney.
  • Liver.
  • Bladder.
  • Pancreas.
  • Stomach.
  • Colon/rectum.

How smoking tobacco damages your lungs

Smoking harms your lung’s airways and little air sacs. The damage begins as soon as a person begins smoking, and it continues to deteriorate as long as the person continues to smoke. This can also lead to serious long-term lung disorders as COPD, pneumonia, TB, and asthma. Common respiratory disorders include:

  • COPD
    Damage to the tiny airways in the lungs causes Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), making it difficult for the lungs to provide oxygen to the rest of the body. The most common cause of COPD is smoking.
  • Chronic bronchitis
    Chronic bronchitis affects people who have been smoking for long periods of time. In this disease, the airways make too much mucus, eventually leading to inflammation and increases the risk of dangerous lung infections.
  • Emphysema
    The walls between the small air sacs in the lungs break down in emphysema, resulting in larger but fewer sacs. This reduces the amount of oxygen that reaches the bloodstream, causing poor lung function, including pneumonia.

Tobacco and heart disease

Smoking cigarettes and chewing tobacco damages your heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular system), increasing your risk of heart disease and stroke. Here are the most common heart ailments:

  • It raises blood pressure, reduces exercise capacity, and increases the risk of blood clots. It also lowers the levels of HDL (good) cholesterol in the blood. All of these things increase your chances of having a heart attack or a stroke.
  • It also leads to other conditions that include peripheral arterial disease (PAD), aortic aneurysm and peripheral vascular disease or (PVD).

Tobacco and reproductive health

All forms of tobacco are made up of harmful chemicals that damage your blood vessels and DNA. Here is how it affects your reproductive health:

Women

  • Tobacco usage can have an adverse effect on a woman’s reproductive health. Women who smoke, for example, are more likely to have difficulty conceiving.
  • Women who smoke while pregnant have a higher risk of pregnancy complications, placenta problems, miscarriages and stillbirths, birth defects, premature births and low birth-weight babies.

Men

  • Smoking can cause damage to blood vessels throughout the body. Erectile dysfunction is more common among men who smoke.
  • Smoking can also affect the sperm quality, which can reduce fertility and increase the risk for birth defects.

Other health risks of tobacco use

Tobacco use of all forms can impact a person’s health in a variety of ways, wreaking havoc on practically every organ in the body. Here are some other ways that tobacco might harm your health:

  • Increased risk of gum disease and tooth loss.
  • Premature aging of the skin.
  • Bad breath and stained teeth.
  • Lowered immune system function.
  • Increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
  • Decreased sense of smell and taste.
  • Lower bone density (thinner bones).
  • Higher risk of rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Increased risk for cataracts.
  • Increased risk for age-related macular degeneration.

Many of the health concerns associated with tobacco use can have a negative impact on a person’s quality of life. Quitting smoking and all other forms of tobacco particularly at an early age, can help to reduce smoking-related impairment.

Smoking cessation clinic at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital

Do you know someone who is a chain smoker? Are you trying to quit smoking but cannot? The Smoking cessation clinic at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital helps diagnose and manage tobacco addictions. Our team of experts that include chest physicians, psychologists and psychiatrists provide a personalised plan to help you give up tobacco. To learn more about quitting tobacco, click here: https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/departments/clinicsatkh/smokingcessationclinic.html

Heart Disease: Know Your Risk

Tuesday, May 24th, 2022

Do you have a history of heart disease in your family? Do you lead a sedentary lifestyle or follow unhealthy eating habits? Being aware of your risk factors is important to take essential precautions and protect your heart health.According to the World Heart Federation, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is still the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for 18.6 million deaths per year. According to the Global Burden of Disease, CVDs account for over a quarter (24.8%) of all fatalities in India.

Heart disease is caused by a variety of factors. Certain risk factors increase your chance of developing it. Heart disease is more likely to occur if you have multiple risk factors.Speak to your family doctor about your family’s medical background and consult a cardiologist for further assistance.

Risk factors for Heart disease

Knowing your risk factors and implementing positive lifestyle changes to minimise your risk are the first steps in preventing heart disease. The majority of heart ailments can be avoided by making healthy decisions. There are certain heart disease risk factors that you can control and others that you can’t. The following are uncontrollable risk factors for heart disease:

  • Being male.
  • Older age.
  • Family history
  • Ethnicity.

Heart disease risk factors that are controllable include:

  • Smoking.
  • Unhealthy cholesterol numbers.
  • Uncontrolled high blood pressure.
  • Physical inactivity.
  • Obesity.
  • Uncontrolled diabetes.
  • Uncontrolled stress, depression, and anger.
  • Poor diet.
  • Alcohol use.

Preventing Heart disease

According to research, heart disease can be prevented in more than half of the cases by making simple lifestyle adjustments. These modifications can typically enhance your entire physical and mental health in addition to lowering your risk of heart attack and stroke. Take these precautions to reduce your risk of heart disease:

  • Quit smoking
    Smokers have more than twice the risk of heart attack as non-smokers and are much more likely to die from them. Quit smoking and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke.
  • Control your cholesterol
    Your risk for heart disease increases with unhealthy cholesterol numbers. A diet low in cholesterol, saturated and trans fats, and simple sugars, and high in complex carbohydrates can help lower cholesterol levels in some people. Regular exercise and medication will also help lower “bad” cholesterol and raise “good” cholesterol in some cases.
  • Control high blood pressure
    Nearly 1 in 3 adults suffer from high blood pressure. Your doctor will assess your blood pressure numbers in light of your overall health, lifestyle, and other risk factors and suggest a treatment plan.
  • Manage your blood sugar levels
    If not properly controlled, diabetes can lead to heart disease and heart damage, including heart attacks. Control diabetes through a healthy diet, exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and medication as prescribed by your doctor.
  • Stay active
    Most people should exercise 30 minutes a day, at moderate intensity, on most days. Aerobic activities that raise your heart rate include brisk walking, cycling, swimming, jumping rope, and jogging. Weight training is also recommended.
  • Eat right
    Eat a heart-healthy diet low in sodium, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, and refined sugars. Try to increase your intake of foods rich in vitamins and other nutrients, especially antioxidants, eat more fruits and vegetables, nuts, and whole grains.
  • Say “No” to alcohol
    Excessive alcohol intake increases your risk of getting a heart disease. Avoid all forms of alcohol.
  • Maintain a healthy weight
    Obesity by itself could raise your risk for heart disease. A balanced diet and regular exercise can help you maintain a healthy weight.
  • Manage stress
    Poorly controlled stress and anger can worsen heart disease. Here are a few ways to reduce your stress levels:
    • Yoga and meditation.
    • Listen to music.
    • Read a book.
    • Take up a hobby you enjoy.
    • Manage your time better.
    • Set realistic goals.
  • Be regular with heart health check-ups
    Preventive health check-ups are often ignored and delayed by people. Discuss your lifestyle as well as your family’s medical history with your doctor and schedule health checkups to protect your heart health

Cardiac care at KokilabenDhirubhaiAmbani Hospital

The Centre for Cardiac Sciences is equipped with cutting-edge technology, world-class infrastructure, and a highly experienced team of cardiologists and cardiac surgeons. We offer a comprehensive programme for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of heart disease in people of all ages. The team has successfully performed over 8500 cardiac surgeries in the past. Visit our hospital website for further information: https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/departments/centresofexcellence/centrefor_cardiacsciences.html

Lifestyle Changes to Manage Hypertension

Monday, May 16th, 2022

High blood pressure, often known as hypertension, is a serious medical condition that can be easily detected at a doctor’s clinic and controlled with low-cost treatment. Despite this, India ranks 193rd for women and 170th for men among 200 countries in terms of hypertension diagnosis. Surprisingly, 60–70% of Indians with hypertension are completely unaware of their disease. Because of the lack of diagnosis, extremely low rates of hypertension treatment exist, putting people at the risk of developing life-threatening diseases like heart attack and stroke.

High blood pressure (HBP, or hypertension) shows no symptoms and is a “silent killer” that quietly damages blood vessels and leads to serious health disorders. Using medications as prescribed and making lifestyle changes can enhance your quality of life and reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and more. This World Hypertension Day, let us understand the key lifestyle changes to manage hypertension and raise awareness about the same.

Know your numbers

Is your blood pressure in the normal or dangerous range? Getting your blood pressure checked is the best method to find out the same. High blood pressure is defined when one or both of your blood pressure readings are higher than 130/80 mm Hg most of the time. If you’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure, you should keep a track of it on a regular basis and seek medical help.

How to manage your blood pressure?

Your daily habits can affect your blood pressure (BP). The right lifestyle choices can help control your blood pressure. Here are a few expert recommended suggestions:

  • Eat a heart healthy diet
    Include more fruits, vegetables and whole grains in your diet which are high in magnesium, potassium, and fiber. Reduce your intake of saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol, which may harm your heart health. They can increase plaque buildup on blood vessels, increasing your blood pressure levels and thus your risk of heart disease. Replace them with healthy fats.
  • Limit your salt intake
    Salt causes your body to retain fluids. Extra fluid in the body can raise blood pressure. The majority of the salt people consume comes from processed foods rather than table salt. Avoid processed foods, ready-to-eat meals, ready sauces, condiments, and other similar food items.
  • Lose excess weight
    Extra weight makes it more difficult for your heart to circulate blood throughout your body. This raises your blood pressure. Eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly to maintain a healthy weight and keep your blood pressure in check.
  • Quit smoking
    Your blood pressure rises every time you smoke. Smoking causes blood arteries to narrow and your heart rate to rise. When you have high blood pressure, these symptoms are exacerbated. Quit smoking today.
  • Manage existing health conditions
    Preexisting health conditions could worsen your hypertension. Take the required medicine as advised by your doctor. It is also important to inform the doctor about all your medications including over-the-counter treatments and herbal supplements.
  • Limit alcohol intake
    Excessive use of alcohol can increase your blood pressure. Alcohol may also react with certain medicines. Stay “No” to alcohol.
  • Exercise regularly
    Exercise can help you lower your blood pressure. It can facilitate blood flow and strengthen your heart. On most days of the week, try to obtain at least 30 minutes of exercise.
  • Manage your stress
    Certain hormones released during stressful situations can make blood pressure higher. Take some time to exercise, pursue a hobby, listen to music and find other ways to unwind and cope better with your stress levels.

Managing blood pressure is a lifelong commitment. Work closely with your doctor to learn about high blood pressure and how to manage it effectively.

Hypertension care at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital

Worried about your fluctuating blood pressure levels? It is important to ask questions and monitor your blood pressure readings. If you’ve already been diagnosed with high blood pressure, work with our team of doctors to come up with an individualized plan to control your blood pressure. Consult our doctors for further medical assistance, call 022 42696969 for appointments or visit the below website link: https://www.kokilabenhospital.com

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