Stay Healthy This Summer

Summer is here! A change of season calls for a change in routine, a revamped diet, and of course, a new exercise regimen that suits the weather. The onset of warm weather can make your body more vulnerable to different types of diseases and certain health guidelines must be followed to ensure a healthy summer.

Here are a few tips to stay healthy this summer

1. Eat healthy and light

Eat light, small, frequent meals. Heavy meals with large amounts of carbohydrates and fats give rise to a lot of heat in the body. Focus on fresh fruits and vegetables that have high water content – such as oranges, watermelon, tomatoes, etc.

2. Treat your eyes well

Protect your vision from the harsh sunlight at work and at play, wear protective eyewear. When outdoors, wear sunglasses that block at least 99% of ultraviolet rays.

3. Avoid Alcohol and Caffeine

Alcohol, fizzy drinks and coffee all can leave you dehydrated quickly. If at all possible, try to reduce the amount of these favourite beverages, especially during hot weather. Plain or flavoured water is a good substitute.

4. Drink plenty of water

Heat and sweat in the summer months can leave your body dehydrated, causing unwanted health outcomes such as fever and chills. Keep yourself well hydrated by drinking at least 2 to 3 litres of water every day.

5. Stay indoors

Restrict outdoor activities to the cooler parts of the day – early mornings before 11. am or late evenings after 5.00 pm.

6. Avoid outside food

Roadside food can be contaminated and may lead to foodborne illnesses. Also in the summer heat if food is not stored properly it may get spoilt and lead to a stomach infection.

Summer Travels

Are you and your family travelling in summer? If you plan to travel within India than you must take a few precautions to keep you safe from the summer heat.

Here are a few tips:

• Accessorize right

Wear light colours and natural fabrics like cotton and linen. When you are outside, use proper covering for your mouth, nose and ears to shield yourself from the hot winds, which can cause dehydration. Use a hat or an umbrella for shade and wear sunglasses to protect your eyes.

• Wear sunscreen

Apply a good waterproof sunscreen to all exposed parts of your body and reapply it every three to four hours to ensure that your skin remains protected.

• Adopt an appropriate skin care routine

Summer can wreak havoc on your skin if proper care is not taken. Excessive oil and sweat can cause troublesome irritation, rashes, prickly heat, and exacerbation of acne. Wash your face often or use tissues to wipe a sweaty face to avoid acne. Use natural face packs with aloe vera gel or sandalwood powder to soothe the skin.

Common Summer Diseases

Summer brings in a host of health problems that range from simple ones like a headache, skin rashes, sunburns, etc. to severe ones like measles, jaundice, and more. You must take necessary preventive measures against summer diseases. Here are a few tips:

• Sunburn

Some of the symptoms of sunburn include red or reddish skin, mild dizziness and fatigue. To protect yourself from sunburn, apply a sunscreen lotion on the exposed areas of your body 20 minutes before heading out in the sun.

• Heat stroke

Heat stroke is another common summer disease, which if left untreated can be fatal. Some of the symptoms of heat strokes include difficulty in breathing, rapid pulse, high body temperature, confusion etc. Avoid stepping out in peak afternoons.

• Prickly heat

Prickly heat refers to red rashes that occur due to an excess of humidity and heat. Prickly heat may be caused by clogging of the sweat glands. You can relieve prickly heat by applying prickly heat powder on areas that show signs of prickly heat.

• Food poisoning

Owing to excessive heat in summer, the food can spoil quickly. To prevent the risk of food poisoning, put the leftover food inside the refrigerator. Food must be well-cooked to ensure that it doesn’t get spoiled.

• Diarrhoea

Because food gets spoilt quickly, diarrhoea is common in summer. Eating contaminated food and unsafe drinking habits can lead to diarrhoea. To keep away from diarrhoea, make sure that you drink water only after boiling it and wash vegetables thoroughly before and after slicing them.

• Skin Rashes

During summers, skin rash is a common skin problem amid children and adults. This typically happens when an individual sweats too much. Bathe often, change your clothes often and avoid wearing tight clothes.

• Chickenpox

Chickenpox makes one of the most common summer diseases. It starts in the form of fluid-filled, red and small rashes accompanied by high fever. This is common in children and in people with low immunity and is highly contagious.

• Measles

Measles is yet another common summer disease. The paramyxovirus which causes measles breeds faster during the summers. Its initial symptoms are cough, high fever, sore throat, and reddening in eyes. At a later stage, the tiny white spots and measles rash appear all over the body.

• Jaundice

Jaundice is a common water-borne disease. It can be a result of Hepatitis A and is mainly caused due to the consumption of contaminated food and water. If not treated on time, this disease can affect the functionality of the liver leading to overproduction of bile.

• Typhoid

Typhoid is passed through the oral-faecal route to healthy individuals. The contaminated food and water sources become the breeding ground for the bacteria. Visible symptoms of typhoid are weakness, loss of appetite, fatigue, pain in the abdomen, high fever.

• Mumps

Of all summer diseases, mumps is another extremely contagious viral disease and affects children. It is contagious in nature and gets transmitted when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Some of the visible symptoms include swelled salivary gland, muscle ache, fever, headache, loss of appetite and weakness.

The primary reason behind the outbreak of diseases in summer is the presence of favourable weather conditions for bacteria, virus and other parasites to breed. Take prevention steps and protect your and your family’s health in summer. Please consult doctors at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital for any summer ailments. Please find website link below:

https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/

World TB Day is observed on 24th March 2019 this year. The theme for this year is "It’s time". The theme has a very strong message for everyone to take steps to prevent TB, cure TB and make the world TB-free. Tuberculosis (TB) is a potentially serious infectious disease that mainly affects your lungs. The bacteria that cause tuberculosis are spread from one person to another through tiny droplets released into the air via coughs and sneezes.

TB affects all age groups and all parts of the world. However, it is more prevalent in developing countries. India is the country with the highest burden of TB. The World Health Organisation (WHO) TB statistics for India for 2016 give an estimated incidence figure of 2.79 million cases of TB for India.

Fast facts on Tuberculosis

Here are some key points about tuberculosis:

• The World Health Organization estimates that 9 million people a year get sick with TB, with 3 million of these "missed" by health systems.
• TB is among the top 3 causes of death for women aged 15 to 44.
• TB symptoms may be mild for many months, and people ill with TB can infect up to 10-15 other people through close contact over the course of a year.
• TB is an airborne pathogen, meaning that the bacteria that cause TB can spread through the air from person to person.

Symptoms

Although your body may harbour the bacteria that cause tuberculosis (TB), your immune system usually can prevent you from becoming sick. For this reason, doctors make a distinction between:

• Latent TB: In this condition, you have a TB infection, but the bacteria remain in your body in an inactive state and cause no symptoms. Latent TB, also called inactive TB or TB infection, isn’t contagious. It can turn into active TB, so treatment is important for the person with latent TB and to help control the spread of TB.
• Active TB. This condition makes you sick and in most cases can spread to others. It can occur in the first few weeks after infection with the TB bacteria, or it might occur years later.

Signs and symptoms of active TB include:

• Coughing that lasts three or more weeks.
• Coughing up blood.
• Chest pain, or pain with breathing or coughing.
• Unintentional weight loss.
• Fatigue.
• Fever.
• Night sweats.
• Chills.
• Loss of appetite.

Many strains of tuberculosis resist the drugs most used to treat the disease. People with active tuberculosis must take several types of medications for many months to eradicate the infection and prevent the development of antibiotic resistance.

Causes

Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria that spread from person to person through microscopic droplets released into the air. This can happen when someone with the untreated, active form of tuberculosis coughs, speaks, sneezes, spits, laughs or sings.

Although tuberculosis is contagious, it’s not easy to catch. You’re much more likely to get tuberculosis from someone you live with or work with than from a stranger. Most people with active TB who’ve had appropriate drug treatment for at least two weeks are no longer contagious.

Risk factors

A healthy immune system often successfully fights TB bacteria, but your body can’t mount an effective defence if your resistance is low. Here are a few conditions which increase your risk of TB:

• HIV/AIDS.
• Diabetes.
• Severe kidney disease.
• Certain cancers or their treatment.
• Drugs to prevent rejection of transplanted organs.
• Malnutrition.
• Very young or advanced age.

Complications

Without treatment, tuberculosis can be fatal. The untreated active disease typically affects your lungs, but it can spread to other parts of your body through your bloodstream. Examples of tuberculosis complications include:

• Spinal pain.
• Joint damage.
• Swelling of the membranes that cover your brain (meningitis).
• Liver or kidney problems.
• Heart disorders.

Protect your family and friends

If you have active TB, keep your germs to yourself. It generally takes a few weeks of treatment with TB medications before you’re not contagious anymore. Follow these tips to help keep your friends and family from getting sick:

• Stay home. Don’t go to work or school or sleep in a room with other people during the first few weeks of treatment for active tuberculosis.
• Ventilate the room. Tuberculosis germs spread more easily in small closed spaces where air doesn’t move.
• Cover your mouth. Use a tissue to cover your mouth anytime you laugh, sneeze or cough. Put the dirty tissue in a bag, seal it and throw it away.
• Wear a mask. Wearing a surgical mask when you’re around other people during the first three weeks of treatment may help lessen the risk of transmission.
• Finish your entire course of medication. This is very important when you stop treatment early or skip doses, TB bacteria have a chance to develop mutations that allow them to survive the most potent TB drugs.

Vaccines

Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is a vaccine for children for tuberculosis (TB) disease. It is a part of infant immunizations. Make sure your child gets it as a part of his/ her healthcare program.

Are you suffering from severe cough for several weeks? It is time to investigate further and get tested for Tuberculosis. Consult doctors at our Pulmonary medicine department for more details. Please find below link:

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

Who doesn’t love a sparkling smile and a set of healthy teeth?

But with unhealthy eating habits and a lazy attitude towards dental hygiene this is a dream for many. There are billions of bacteria living inside our mouths at any given time. Many of these bacteria build up as plaque, causing tooth decay (cavities) and gingivitis, which can lead to periodontal (gum) disease. For a healthy smile, you must practice good oral hygiene every day. A good oral hygiene means you can chew well and can avoid toothaches and discomfort.

Here are a few simple ways to maintain good oral hygiene:

1. Start children early. One in four young children develops signs of tooth decay before they start school. Half of all children between the ages of 12 and 15 have cavities. Dental care should begin as soon as a child’s first tooth appears, usually around six months.

2.Use enough — but not too much — fluoride. The use of fluoride helps strengthen enamel, making it less likely to decay. Many toothpastes and mouth rinses contain fluoride.

3. Brush twice a day and floss daily. Gum disease and tooth decay remain big problems for all age groups. Here are a few things to take care:

• Toothbrushes should be changed 3 to 4 times a year.
• Teenagers with braces need special toothbrushes and other oral hygiene tools, consult your orthodontist.

4. Rinse after meals. In addition to brushing and flossing, rinsing your mouth with an antibacterial rinse can help prevent decay and gum problems.

5. Block blows to teeth. Sports and recreational activities build healthy bodies, but they can pose a threat to teeth. Consult your dentist for more details on a mouth guard for contact sports activities.

6. Don’t smoke or use smokeless tobacco. Tobacco stains teeth and significantly increases the risk of gum disease and oral cancer. If you smoke or use chewing tobacco, quit it.

7. Eat smart. At every age, a healthy diet is essential to healthy teeth and gums. A well-balanced diet of whole foods — including grains, nuts, fruits and vegetables, and dairy products — will provide all the nutrients you need..

Most Common Dental Problems

Here is a list of common dental health problems suffered by many:

1. Bad Breath

Bad breath, also called halitosis, can be downright embarrassing. According to dental studies, about 85 percent of people with persistent bad breath have a dental condition that is to blame. Gum disease, cavities, oral cancer, dry mouth, and bacteria on the tongue are some of the dental problems that can cause bad breath. A mouthwash helps cover up breath temporarily, consult a dentist for chronic bad breath.

2. Tooth Decay

Tooth decay occurs when plaque, the sticky substance that forms on teeth, combines with the sugars and/or starches of the food you eat. This combination produces acids that attack tooth enamel. As you age, you can develop cavities as your tooth enamel erodes. Dry mouth due to age or medications can also lead to cavities.

3. Gum (Periodontal) Disease

Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is an infection of the gums surrounding the teeth. It is also one of the main causes of tooth loss among adults. Smoking, diabetes and dry mouth also increase your risk of a gum disease. The symptoms include bad breath, red, swollen, tender, or bleeding gums, sensitive teeth, and painful chewing.

4. Oral Cancer

Oral cancer is a serious and deadly disease that affects millions of people. It is most often seen in people over the age of 40. The biggest risk factors are tobacco and alcohol use, including chewing tobacco.

5. Mouth Sores

There are several types of mouth sores and they can be pesky and bothersome. Unless a mouth sore lasts more than two weeks, it is usually nothing to worry about and will disappear on its own.

6. Tooth Erosion

Tooth erosion is the loss of tooth structure and is caused by acid attacking the enamel. Tooth erosion signs and symptoms can range from sensitivity to more severe problems such as cracking. Tooth erosion is more common than people might think, but it can also be easily prevented.

7. Tooth Sensitivity

Tooth sensitivity is a common problem that affects millions of people. Basically, tooth sensitivity involves experiencing pain or discomfort to your teeth from sweets, cold air, hot drinks, cold drinks or ice cream. It also causes discomfort from brushing and flossing.

8. Toothaches and Dental Emergencies

Having a dental emergency can be very painful and scary. Common problems that require an urgent trip to your dentist include a broken or cracked tooth, an abscessed tooth, or a tooth knocked out in an accident.

9. Unattractive Smile

While an unattractive smile is not technically a "dental problem," it is a major reason why many patients seek dental treatment. An unattractive smile can really lower a person’s self-esteem. Whether it’s teeth whitening, dental implants, orthodontics or other cosmetic dental work, chances are that your dentist can give you the smile of your dreams.

How can I prevent tooth decay?

The best way to prevent tooth decay and remove plaque is by brushing and cleaning between your teeth every day.  

Proper Brushing and Flossing Techniques:

Brushing

• Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against the gums.
• Move the brush back and forth gently in short (tooth-wide) strokes.
• Brush the outer tooth surfaces, the inner tooth surfaces, and the chewing surfaces of the teeth.
• Use the tip of the brush to clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, using a gentle up-and-down stroke.
• Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath.

Flossing

• Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind it around the middle fingers of each hand. Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers.
• Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion.
• When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a C shape against one tooth. Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth.
• Bring the floss back toward the contact point between the teeth and move the floss up or down the other side, conforming the floss to the shape of the tooth.

Use mouth rinse for added protection

Antimicrobial mouth rinses reduce bacteria and plaque activity, which cause gingivitis and gum disease. Fluoride mouth rinses also help reduce and prevent tooth decay but are not recommended for kids 6 years and younger.

Are you or a family member suffering from a dental condition. Consult dentists at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital for the best dental advice and treatments. Please find below link for more details:

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

Is your health your priority?

Or does it come after your kids, work, family and home responsibilities?

Personal health takes a backseat for most women, with their hectic schedule of taking care of work, home, and all the people in their lives. This Women’s Day, make a positive change yourself and encourage around you to make “health” a priority. Ignoring health and living an unhealthy lifestyle can have bad repercussions on your health.

Here are some simple steps that’ll boost your health:

• Manage stress better – Stress is a part of everyday life while managing work, home chores, children responsibilities as well as social commitments. Plan in advance and learn to prioritize. Take some time out to meditate or practise yoga to deal with stress effectively. Setting aside even 10 minutes will help you relaxed, it helps deal with stress better leaves you calmer to start the next day.
• Quit fad diets – Fad diets don’t work and may do more harm to your body. Instead, focus on eating healthy foods of all varieties in moderate quantities. Cut down on salt and sugar intake, fried foods and processed foods and take out time for a fitness class.
• Choose the right fats – Avoid vanaspati (trans fatty acids), decrease refined oil content in your diet and add some ghee and coconut oil which are good fats to your diet.
• Attend menstrual discomfort – If you are facing irregular periods, heavy bleeding or severe period pain then it needs the attention of a gynaecologist. Do not take it lightly as this directly affects your reproductive health.
• Eat fresh – Eat home cooked meals as fresh food is richer in nutrients, antioxidants, vitamins and micro-nutrients when compared to preserved and packaged food. Choose natural foods, seasonal fruits and vegetables, whole grains, high-fiber greens, and leaner cuts of meat instead.
• Get enough sleep – The function of sleep is to not only to relax the body but also to rest and restore the mind. It is necessary to heal and repair your heart and blood vessels. Commit to sleeping a minimum of seven hours a day while aiming for eight, and you will feel yourself getting healthier and happier in a short amount of time.
• Say goodbye to sugar – Research suggests that eating too much sugar has serious ramifications on your health. From weight gain to high levels of cholesterol and blood sugar, sugar intake has been linked to a number of avoidable health issues.
• Stay hydrated – If you tend to forget to drink water through the day, make your bottle of water more visible. Keep it on your desk or in your room. Your goal is simply to finish drinking at least eight glasses or two litres of water in the course of the day.
• Do not skip meals – There will always be meetings and busy schedules to contend with. However, it is important to ensure that your daily schedule does not take time away from your meals.
• Exercise regularly – Whether you choose to take a walk, start your day with yoga routines, hit the gym for some strength training, or join an aerobics class adding a little bit of exercise to your daily routine can help reduce your cortisol levels. Daily activity will boost the health of your body as well as your mind.

Medical tests

Women’s bodies go through so much, from hormonal ups and downs to childbirth and menopause. Today’s fast-paced lifestyles only add more hurdles when it comes to maintaining a healthy daily routine. Regular screening ensures that any health issues are identified early. Being proactive regarding your health can prevent several health problems. We highly recommend that women must take these routine medical screening tests once they have crossed 35 years of age:

1. Pelvic Examination

It is always advisable that you visit your Gynaecologist periodically and have a complete pelvic examination and a Pap smear test. Cervical cancer is a leading cause of death amongst women in India.

2. Breast Examination

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in India despite being easily identifiable. It is recommended that every woman should regularly undergo breast cancer screening with a mammogram. Early detection ensures better chances of recovery. Complete breast self-examination is also recommended every month. Examine your breasts for pain, tenderness, lump, thickening, or any discharge. Talk to your doctor if you spot anything unusual.

3. Bone Density Test

Osteoporosis is a common degenerative condition of the bones where vital minerals like calcium leach from the bones making them weak and brittle. This condition affects 80% of women and aggravates dramatically after a woman achieves menopause. This happens due to declining levels of hormone estrogen which plays a protective role on bones in women. Hence a bone density test helps to detect your bone condition.

4. Thyroid Test

Many women complain of unexplained weight gain, hair loss, brittle nails, and exhaustion. A common reason for this is an underactive thyroid or hypothyroidism which controls the metabolism of the body. Get your thyroid levels checked.

5. Diabetes Screening

A blood sugar test helps to diagnose diabetes and pre-diabetes. Diabetes is becoming an epidemic and is being detected at a much younger age than before. Diabetes has a tremendous impact on a woman’s health and has severe long-term complications. This test is recommended if you are overweight or are pregnant, have high blood pressure, or a strong family history of diabetes.

6. Lipid Profile Tests

This test checks for good and bad cholesterol along with triglycerides and total cholesterol levels. Cholesterol is a fat molecule, which is present in higher levels can get accumulated in the blood vessels and can affect the health of your heart, blood vessels, and brain.

7. Vitamin D Test

This is a vital nutrient needed for bone growth and maintenance. The most important source of vitamin D is exposure to the sun. Fatty fishes and fortified dairy products are also a good source. As we age, the tendency to synthesise this nutrient decreases.

8. Heart-Health Test

Sixty-four per cent of women who die from sudden cardiac death have no previous symptoms of this disease. The symptoms of heart disease also differ from men to women. Get your cardiac check-up done if you have a family history of hypertension, heart disease or if you’re overweight, or if you are a smoker.

From pregnancy to childbirth, menopause to cancer, as well as many other women’s health conditions is attended at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital. Consult our experts, please visit the below website for more details:

https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/