The Real Reason behind Your “Fatigue”

Do you often ask yourself, “Why am I so tired?” Do you feel like no matter how much sleep you get, you’re still tired all the time? It does not mean you are lazy.

Getting a good night’s sleep is important, but how many of us make it a priority. Stimulants like coffee and energy drinks, alarm clocks, and external lights — including those from electronic devices — interfere with our circadian rhythm, or natural sleep/wake cycle. A good night’s sleep is needed to replenish your energy levels. But if you are getting enough rest and still feel exhausted, then your low energy level may be an indicator of an underlying problem.

Here are some possible reasons for your fatigue:

1. Sedentary Lifestyle –With the technology boom it is common for many people to develop a sedentary lifestyle, be it office goers or home makers. Everything is available at your doorstep and easily accessible with apps. However this has a downside. Your body was made to move, in absence of regular activities, you can experience mood issues, sluggishness, fatigue, and weight gain. Regular exercise does wonders for the body by releasing endorphins, boosting your stamina and lifting your mood.
2. Junk food diet – Diets high in saturated fats, trans fats , processed foods and added sugars can deplete your energy levels.  Choose a healthy diet filled with many fresh fruits and vegetables.
3. Stress – Stress can be a major reason for feeling tired and fatigued. Work life, personal life, prolonged illness, career pressure all may be reasons of stress. Make the right choices to avoid being in stressful situations. Try to manage your stress by yoga, meditation and taking up any hobby you enjoy.
4. Vitamin D deficiency – Research suggests a link between low levels of this vitamin, low energy and depression. Consult your doctor and take vitamin D supplements if needed. Regular morning walks in sunlight also help get natural sunlight.
5. Thyroid Disease – Fatigue, moodiness and muscle and joint pain are some of its symptoms. Get yourself tested today. It may be the hidden cause of your fatigue as the thyroid gland helps control your metabolic rate and energy levels.
6. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – It affects up to 80 percent of adults worldwide and is caused by a hormonal imbalance. Your adrenal glands release more than 50 different hormones, including the energy-regulating hormones cortisol and adrenaline. These key hormones increase and decrease according to the amount of stress being put on your body.
7. Anaemia – Anaemia is a condition where a person has a lower than normal level of red blood cells. Anaemia is related to a low supply of oxygen reaching cells and tissues throughout the body. Felling tired and fatigued is one of its main symptoms.
8. Not enough omega-3 – Try to incorporate foods in your diet that provide beneficial omega-3 fatty acids. It helps to reduce depression, which can make you feel fatigued. Foods rich in omega-3 include seafood, leafy greens, chia seeds and ground flax seed. Try to include more of these foods into your diet.
9. Dehydration – Dehydration occurs when there is an excessive loss of body fluids, especially of water and electrolytes. When you’re dehydrated, your heart sends oxygen and nutrients to your brain, muscles and organs at a slower pace; as a consequence, you begin to feel fatigued, lethargic, moody.

Take a note of the above factors while finding the underlying reason of your fatigue. If it does not help, get a complete body health check up done with us to rule out any underlying diseases. After all preventative care is always recommended. Please see below link for further details:

https://online.kokilabenhospital.com/health-checkup

What is Epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a central nervous system (neurological) disorder in which brain activity becomes abnormal, causing seizures or periods of unusual behaviour, sensations, and sometimes loss of awareness.

The seizure symptoms can vary widely. Some people with epilepsy simply stare blankly for a few seconds during a seizure, while others repeatedly twitch their arms or legs. Having a single seizure doesn’t mean you have epilepsy. At least two unprovoked seizures are generally required for an epilepsy diagnosis.

Anyone can develop epilepsy, at any time of life. It happens in people of all ages, races and social classes. However it is most commonly diagnosed in children and in people over 65. Epilepsy affects both males and females of all races, ethnic backgrounds and ages.

Treatment with medications or sometimes surgery can control seizures for the majority of people with epilepsy. Some people require lifelong treatment to control seizures, but for others, the seizures eventually go away. Some children with epilepsy may outgrow the condition with age.

Some symptoms may include:

• Temporary confusion
• A staring spell
• Uncontrollable jerking movements of the arms and legs
• Loss of consciousness or awareness
• Psychic symptoms such as fear, anxiety or deja vu

Symptoms vary depending on the type of seizure.

See a doctor immediately if:

• The seizure lasts more than five minutes.
• Breathing or consciousness doesn’t return after the seizure stops.
• A second seizure follows immediately.
• You have a high fever.
• You’re experiencing heat exhaustion.
• You’re pregnant.
• You have diabetes.
• You’ve injured yourself during the seizure.

Causes

Epilepsy has no identifiable cause in about half the people with the condition. In the other half, the condition may be traced to some of the below factors:

• Genetic influence. Some types of epilepsy, which are categorized by the type of seizure you experience or the part of the brain that is affected, run in families.
• Head trauma. Head trauma as a result of a car accident or other traumatic injury can cause epilepsy.
• Brain conditions. Brain conditions that cause damage to the brain, such as brain tumors or strokes, can cause epilepsy. Stroke is a leading cause of epilepsy in adults older than age 35.
• Infectious diseases. Infectious diseases, such as meningitis, AIDS and viral encephalitis, can cause epilepsy.
• Prenatal injury. Before birth, babies are sensitive to brain damage. It may be due to an infection in the mother, poor nutrition or oxygen deficiencies.
• Developmental disorders. Epilepsy can sometimes be associated with developmental disorders, such as autism and neurofibromatosis.

Complications

Having a seizure at certain times can lead to circumstances that are dangerous to yourself or others.

• Falling. If you fall during a seizure, you can injure your head or break a bone.
• Drowning. If you have epilepsy, you’re 15 to 19 times more likely to drown while swimming or bathing than the rest of the population because of the possibility of having a seizure while in the water.
• Car accidents. A seizure that causes either loss of awareness or control can be dangerous if you’re driving a car or operating other equipment.
• Pregnancy complications. Seizures during pregnancy pose dangers to both mother and baby, and certain anti-epileptic medications increase the risk of birth defects. Consult your doctor before planning your pregnancy.
• Emotional health issues. People with epilepsy are more likely to have psychological problems, especially depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts and behaviours.

• Status epilepticus. This condition occurs if you’re in a state of continuous seizure activity lasting more than five minutes or if you have frequent recurrent seizures without regaining full consciousness in between them. People with status epilepticus have an increased risk of permanent brain damage and death.
• Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). People with epilepsy also have a small risk of sudden unexpected death. The cause is unknown, however people with frequent tonic-clonic seizures or people whose seizures aren’t controlled by medications may be at higher risk of SUDEP. Overall, about 1 percent of people with epilepsy die of SUDEP.

Fortunately, epilepsy is a treatable condition. Many people with epilepsy (two out of three) will achieve good seizure control with medication. When medication is not effective in preventing seizures there are other treatment options available.

Are you Epileptic? Here is a guide on healthy living with Epilepsy:

• Follow a healthy diet and take care of your overall health.
• Know and understand your epilepsy diagnosis.
• Be in compliance of the best treatment for you.
• Know your seizure triggers and make lifestyle changes to prevent or avoid them.
• Speak to others suffering from Epilepsy. It help gain insights to manage the disease and improve your quality of life.

If you or a loved one is suffering from Epilepsy, meet our experts at our Centre for Neurosciences. Please find below link for further details on Epilepsy treatment:

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

Have you ever wondered why is the spinal cord given so much importance? It is one of the most parts of the human body. The nervous system runs electrical impulses up and down the spine to areas that feel sensation. A damaged spinal cord can disrupt neural responses, disabling sensations in parts of your body.

Let us look at some other vital functions below:

• Your spinal cord gives you the ability to bend and twist. When your spine is injured, your mobility is limited.
• An injury to the spinal cord can make walking, bending, sitting straight, twisting your spine, or moving your neck difficult.
• Your oesophagus is parallel with your spine. If you accidentally injure your spine, it can press against your oesophagus, obstruct it, or puncture it and hamper food intake.
• Incorrect movement, intense exercises and bad posture can add unnecessary pressure to the spine, which over time can lead to degenerative diseases.
• Without your spine working properly, your quality of life can greatly deteriorate. You won’t be able to enjoy many of the activities you love.

Spinal problems can begin as early as the late twenties. To prevent injury to your spine or further deterioration, it is important to strengthen your spine with exercise. Millions of people are affected by back pain every day. It affects their quality of personal and professional life. In fact, lower back pain is the leading cause of job-related disability.

Here are simple yet important tips to maintain your spine health:

1. Lift correctly – Improperly lifting heavy items can put your lower back muscles in abnormal positions and cause muscle strains. Additionally, improper lifting may cause your spinal joints to lock or your spinal discs to rupture.
2. Walking – The benefits of walking are plentiful, including strengthening the core muscles that keep your body upright, improving flexibility, and strengthening your bone structure.
3. Match your pillow to your sleeping position – When you lie down to sleep, you want a pillow that supports the natural curve of your neck. This means that people who prefer different sleeping positions will need different kinds of pillows.
4. Choose your food wisely – Your daily diet plays an important role in maintaining the health of your spine. Choose vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes. over processed foods and unhealthy sweets.
5. Exercise in the water – Exercising in a pool reduces the downward stress of gravity as the buoyancy of water helps to support your spine, thus reducing the risk of injury.
6. Quit smoking – Smoking increases your likelihood of developing degenerative spinal disorders and back pain.
7. Sleep well – Sleeping well is important to your overall health. Your body needs a good night’s sleep to repair itself. Sleep on your side, not your stomach as it puts too much pressure on your spine.
8. Stretch out – Regular stretching and being flexible helps maintain normal joint functions and also reduces the risk of injury.
9. Maintain a healthy weight –  Being overweight or obese a risk factor for low back pain.
10. Work smart – Proper ergonomics can help reduce a lot of stress on both the lower and upper back.  Ensure your desk is set up for your height and functionality. Take regular breaks to periodically get up and walk around the office or home.

Some risk factors that contribute to back aches:

• Back pain is more common as you age, you may first have back pain when you are 30 to 40 years old.
• Poor physical fitness leads to spine ailments.
• A diet high in calories and fat can make you obese, excess weight can stress the back and cause pain.
• Some causes of back pain, such as ankylosing spondylitis can have a genetic component.
• If you have to lift, push, or pull while twisting your spine at work, you may get back pain.  A sedentary job with a bad posture may also lead to back pain.

What Are the Causes of Back Pain?

Some of the common mechanical problems which cause back pain are:

• Disk breakdown
• Spasms
• Tense muscles
• Ruptured disks
• Injuries from sprains, fractures or accidents.

Back pain can also occur with some below conditions:

• Scoliosis
• Spondylolisthesis
• Arthritis
• Spinal stenosis
• Pregnancy
• Kidney stones
• Infections
• Endometriosis

Do not ignore spinal problems or pain. Pay attention to any warning signs. If left untreated, problems with your spine can worsen and become serious. The Centre for Bone and Joint at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital offers comprehensive solutions for various spine disorders. Please refer below link for more details:

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

A stroke is a brain attack which occurs when the blood supply to a part of the brain is cut off.  Stroke’s are a leading cause of disability globally. Depending on which part of the brain is affected and how quickly the treatment is received, the effects of stroke can be devastating to a person’s body, mobility, speech and overall mental health. During a stroke, 1.9 million neurons are lost every minute, making the identification of warning signs essential to receiving timely treatment.

Types of stroke:

1. Ischemic stroke: This happens in about 87 percent of all stroke cases. It  occur as a result of an obstruction within a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain. The underlying condition for this type of obstruction is the development of fatty deposits lining the vessel walls. This condition is called atherosclerosis.

2. Hemorrhagic stroke:

Hemorrhagic stroke accounts for about 13 percent of stroke cases. It results from a weakened vessel that ruptures and bleeds into the surrounding brain. The blood accumulates and compresses the surrounding brain tissue.

Strokes can strike anyone, anytime. Acting in the golden hour can help save a patient’s life. Strokes are the second leading cause of death, 17 million people suffer a stroke each year and 6.5 million die as a consequence. A stroke can happen at any age, it affects one in six people experiencing a stroke during his/her lifetime.

Although no one can predict when a stroke might happen, there are some common signs that may indicate someone is having a stroke. The FAST test is an easy way for everyone to remember and recognize the signs of stroke.

FAST stands for Face, Arms, Speech and Time to act:

Face –Check their face. Has their mouth drooped?

Arms – Can they lift both arms?

Speech – Is their speech slurred? Do they understand you?

Time – Is critical. If you notice any of these warning signs, act FAST. Call your local emergency medical services or get to the nearest hospital immediately.

Disorders after Stroke

The following disorders can occur in the aftermath of a stroke and they affect the majority of stroke patients:

Pain
Paralyzed shoulder muscles are not able to help tendons keep the upper end of the arm in the shoulder joint. As a result the arm drops from the joint which is very painful and can prevent rehabilitation of the hand and arm.

Depression
Depression after stroke, as after any severe illness, is very common, often goes without diagnosis, reduces the patient’s capacity for rehabilitation, and impairs his/her quality of life. Furthermore this affects not only stroke survivors but also their spouses or care takers.

Cognitive decline
Stroke can lead to cognitive decline, and it is even more common after a recurrent stroke. This is also the case after recurrent subclinical strokes which are often not diagnosed due to missing classical symptoms of stroke. Yet, they cause more and more damage and reduce the mental capacity of patients.

Spasticity
Brain injury from stroke sometimes causes paralyzed muscles to involuntarily contract (shorten or flex) after trying to move a limb. This creates stiffness and tightness. The contracted muscles often freeze the joints of the hand and arm permanently into an abnormal and often painful position.

How to reduce your risk of stroke

90% of strokes are linked to 10 avoidable risks, take care of these risk factors to avoid Stroke:

• Control high blood pressure
• Do moderate exercise 5 times a week
• Eat a healthy, balanced diet
• Reduce your cholesterol
• Maintain a healthy BMI or waist to hip ratio
• Stop smoking and avoid second-hand exposure
• Reduce alcohol intake
• Identify and treat atrial fibrillation
• Reduce your risk from diabetes, talk to your doctor
• Get educated about stroke

Meet our Stroke specialists at our Centre for Neurosciences for any Stroke concerns. Our comprehensive stroke program gets activated when any Stroke emergency calls are received. For more information visit:
https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/departments/centresofexcellence/centrefor_neurosciences/stroke.html

Are you recovering from post Diwali binging? Have you fared badly in your recent medical reports? It is time to do a reality check and make some changes in your lifestyle as well as in your diet. Now that the festivities are over it is time to take some control of your health. It not only benefits you internally but also makes a huge difference to the way you look and your overall energy levels.

It is best to keep it simple and follow some basic rules. Create a balance in your life and eat all food groups equally. Instead of going on a crash diet it is recommended that you promise to keep up to your diet daily by creating a life-style change.

The extra sweet treats this Diwali have not gone very well with your bodies. Apart from the extra weight the body’s digestive has found it difficult to assimilate the festive diet- rich in fats, sugar and carbohydrates as well as alcohol for some. This leads to indigestion, bloating or heaviness. Here are some tips to give your body a break and up your health quotient:

• Say no to white foods, yes you got it right, stay away from all white breads, rice, maida, sugar and any kind of white processed ingredients. This is challenging but worth the effort.
• Always be hydrated and have enough water daily. It helps flush out excess sugar and fats in the body. Stick to a minimum of two litres and maximum of four litres.
• Start your day with some lemons and warm water. From bloating to indigestion, lemons can naturally cure everything related to your digestive system.
• Instead of having full meals, choose large bowls of vegetable soup to fill yourself. Add a variety of vegetables and spices. Vegetable soup provides the liver with a swell of antioxidants as well as potassium which creates an alkaline atmosphere required to eliminate toxins from the body.
• Practise yoga. It helps strengthen your body and breathing purifies your complete organ system.
• Avoid skipping meals, instead stick to small frequent meals throughout the day and have plain roasted, steamed, grilled vegetables.
• Avoid those so called diet munchies & chips. They are ultimately processed and high in sodium adding to the next day puffiness.
• You can also include lots of fluids in the form of water , green tea, vegetable juices, coconut water, buttermilk in your daily meals.
• Have light meals like khichdi ,or porridge. They are all easy to digest and help in keeping the system light. They are not only nourishing and filling but also prevent you from reaching out for that packet of chips. Along with being light, they also aid the body in digestion, provide energy and strengthen the immune system.
• Fruits are packed with essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fibres; hence you should include at least 3-4 servings of colourful fruits through the day. These nutrients act as building blocks for the body as growth of each cell depends upon them. The fibre in fruits specifically helps cleanse the toxins lining the intestinal walls.

For a detailed plan and personalised diet plan do visit the Nutrition department at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital. Please refer below link for more details.

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