Busting the most common Myths related to Tuberculosis

With 3 years of no new Polio cases reported, India was officially declared as a Polio-free nation by the World Health Organization (WHO) which was most certainly a major achievement but can we expect the same breakthrough to be achieved in cases of Tuberculosis too.

Can India be free from this epidemic in the next 10, 20 or 30 years?

That’s the big question!

India bears the maximum burden of Tuberculosis in the World with approximately 800 lives being lost yearly due to this lethal disease. It is roughly estimated that 80% of our country’s population is exposed to the Tuberculosis virus by the time they turn 20.

Delay in diagnosis and lack of awareness are 2 of the most important factors to have initiated the growing numbers of Tuberculosis cases in our country. To add to it, there are many myths and false notions about this disease which has worsened the scenario further. This year, On World Tuberculosis Day, we are exposing some of the most common myths related to this infectious disease:

Myth – I do not Smoke and since Tuberculosis virus affects only the lungs, I can never have TB

Fact – There are multiple factors that can cause Tuberculosis. In addition to the lungs, TB can impact many different organs of the human body including the brain, spinal cord, intestines, eyes, covering of the heart, bones & joints, stomach etc.

Myth – Tuberculosis is incurable

Fact – Early diagnosis plays an important role in the treatment of TB. If a patient thoroughly follows the treatment module and goes for regular follow-ups with the doctor, this disease is completely curable.

Myth – Only those who are poor & underprivileged can contract this disease

Fact – Anyone, regardless of his/her socio-economic background and living condition is susceptible to the TB virus.

Myth – Tuberculosis is extremely contagious and anyone who comes in contact with the infected person can contract it

Fact – Pulmonary or lung tuberculosis alone is marked as extremely infectious. Although TB is spread through the air when people who have the disease cough or sneeze, it takes close and lengthy contact with an infectious person to catch the disease

Myth – Tuberculosis is hereditary

Fact – TB is not caused by genetic factors but is contracted only after coming in close contact with an infected person.

Myth – TB infection & TB disease are the same

Fact – TB infection is a state whereby the TB germs are asleep in your body. This germ enters your body after coming in close contact with a TB infected person. TB infection progresses into TB disease when the germs become active and start affecting your organs. You can prevent this outcome by taking proper medications to get rid of the TB germs in your body

Myth – BCG vaccination offers guaranteed protection from TB

Fact – The only assurance that a BCG vaccination can give is that it safeguards children from contracting an extremely severe kind of Tuberculosis. Whether or not it protects adults from TB, is very uncertain because there have been cases in the past whereby people who were vaccinated earlier in life went on to contract the infected at a later stage.

Remember, if Tuberculosis is left untreated, it can also lead to death. Early diagnosis and timely medication is the only way to treat this illness.

The Pulmonary Medicine Department of Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital provides a world class service in the diagnosis and management of various Respiratory Diseases and Sleep Disorders like Asthma, COPD, Pneumonia, Interstitial Lung Disease, Lung Cancer, and Tuberculosis. To know more, visit.

Observed on the 12th of March, World Kidney Day Celebration is an attempt to educate people about the severity of kidney diseases and encourage them to get periodic kidney tests which is a vital pre-requisite to early diagnosis

Did you know…?

In India, 1 out of 10 people is diagnosed with some form of Kidney Disease. Although most kidney diseases are preventable & curable, they are still highly prevalent not just in India but across the globe as well. The bad news here is that in more than half of the cases, patients don’t even realize that they have a kidney disease until almost 60% of their kidney is affected or damaged. Here are a few very important facts that every individual should know about this bean-shaped organ within the body:

Fact 1 – Situated on both sides of the spine, Kidneys not only purify the blood, but also:

• Regulate the proportion of water within the body
• Discard toxins & drugs introduces into the body
• Release hormones into the blood
• Keep blood pressure in control
• Help in the production of red blood cells
• Remove wastes & fluid from the body
• Promote healthy bone development

Fact 2 – Diabetes, High blood pressure and Hardening of the arteries are 3 of the most common causes of Kidney diseases. People suffering from any of these illnesses, are more susceptible than others to develop Kidney diseases at any point of time. Avoid these Kidney damaging habits:

• Delaying urination
• Excessive Salt intake
• Eating too much meat
• Caffeine Dependency
• Reduced intake of water
• Delaying periodic medical check-ups/ Delayed Treatment

Fact 2 – Kidney disease can be a silent killer mainly due to the fact that it rarely shows obvious symptoms. Watch out for these signs:

• Alteration in the amount/frequency of passing urine and changes in color of the urine
• Abdominal pain especially in areas where the kidneys are located
• Difficulty in sleeping
• Headache
• Swollen legs & ankles
• Fatigue
• High blood pressure
• Low appetite
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea with or without vomiting
• Bad breath

Fact 3 – With every decade after the age of 30, your kidney function will decline by 10%. This means that you have to take extra care of your kidneys in order to prevent any kind of damage.

Why not take precautions early in life and minimize the load on kidneys? These simple tips will reduce the risk of developing kidney problems:

• Stay hydrated – Drink plenty of water
• Do not resist the urge to urinate
• Exercise regularly – Keep your blood pressure in control
• Adopt a healthy lifestyle in order to manage Diabetes, blood pressure & heart disease which can lead to kidney damage
• Follow a healthy diet & reduce your salt intake
• Avoid smoking & consumption of alcoholic beverages
• Keep away from pain killers
• Include more of healthy beverages in your diet and avoid caffeinated drinks
• Do not skip your periodic medical check-ups. Get your kidney functions checked within timely intervals

Fact 4 – Diet plays an important role in keeping the kidneys healthy and functioning properly. These antioxidant and vitamin-rich foods will not only protect your kidneys but also benefit damaged kidneys:

• Red Bell peppers
• Onion
• Cabbage
• Garlic
• Apples
• Cauliflower
• Egg whites

In spite of the fact that most people are born with two kidneys, it is still the most transplanted organ in the world. Reversing the global incidence of kidney disease begins with proper awareness. This World Kidney Day, pledge to adopt a healthy lifestyle and share maximum information about the health risks associated with this vital organ.

The very thought of Board Exams is enough to make a student feel highly stressed and anxious but as parents it is our responsibility to make our children feel relaxed and help them go through this phase with the right frame of mind. Parents have a very important role to play in helping their children cope with the exam stress. Their actions can either motivate the children or pressurize them to score more. Motivation and moral support from parents has shown to help a child’s academic performance whereas putting too much pressure on the child to score high in exams can actually reduce his/her mental capabilities and add to the stress levels.

These tips will help you as a parent in keeping your child at ease during exams:

• Make sure that your child gets proper sleep. Stressing over exams often leads to children missing out on their nap times which can have a detrimental impact on their concentration levels during the exam. Late night studies may work for some kids but not all can cope with the lethargy that accompanies with this habit.
• Be a part of your child’s study routine by taking up their revisions. Ask them if there are certain concepts that they do not understand and try your best to offer them an easy explanation for the same. If unable to do so, you can always get help from their teacher or tuition teacher or another parent.
• Ease up the environment at home. Exams cannot be taken lightly, and yes, as a parent you must ensure that the child follows a certain study routine when it comes to preparing for his/her exams but sometimes parents tend to go overboard in disciplining their child. This could prove to be counter-productive. What you can do, is try to create a relaxing atmosphere at home whereby you have a friendly chat with the child about topics other than exams/studies. Allow them to indulge in some of their favorite pass time for an hour or so. This will create a relaxing ambiance at home. If you are relaxed, the conscious and subconscious parts of the mind interact in a better way, thereby reducing the chances of freezing up during exams.
• Ensure that your child follows a proper Diet. It is recommended for children of all ages to meet their nutritional requirements in order to promote proper growth and body functioning. During exams, it is natural for a child to experience some amount of anxiety and nervousness which is why their diet has to be constantly monitored. Avoid junk food which can trigger stomach problems. Also eliminate frozen items like ice-creams & cold drinks which can result in throat infections with fever like symptoms. Focus on providing them with a balanced diet that includes food items which are easily digestible.
• Guide them in the right direction and give them your total support. When children know that their parents will always support them regardless of their scores, the entire ordeal becomes a lot stress free which consequently puts a positive spin on their overall performance during exams. This can be done with the help of encouragement not pressure.

Make your kids feel secure by being there for them in every step of the way. Stress will automatically take a backseat

Cancer affects everyone, regardless of their age, sex, religion, ethnicity, financial status and geographic location. Several media personalities including Yuvraj Singh, Lisa Ray & Manisha Koirala have been diagnosed with cancer and later declared cancer-free with the help of proper treatment.

This year, World Cancer Day will be celebrated with a theme – ‘Not Beyond us’. This theme highlights the fact that proper intervention of cancer is not out of people’s reach. It means that choosing healthy lives; delivering early detection; achieving treatment for all and maximizing quality of life is NOT BEYOND US

Cancer remains one of the most dominant diseases in India with the highest mortality rate. Research indicates that 1 out of 10 Indians are at a risk of getting cancer before the age of 75, while 7 out of 100 Indians are at the risk of dying due to cancer before their 75th birthday. With a million new cases being reported each year, experts warn that the incidence of this killer disease could increase 5 times by the year 2025.

Tobacco is the single most important factor which causes cancer in India. Other factors can be both internal (hormonal, poor immune system, genetic, mutations etc.) and external or environmental factors (unhealthy food habits, industrialization, over population, poor lifestyle etc.). Cancer is an illness that challenges the basics of a person’s existence in terms of how he/she feels, appears, works and lives. Statistics also reveal that Indian women are diagnosed with cancer more than men. Some of the most commonly detected cancers in India are cancers of the lung & oral cavity in men, and of the breast & cervix in women.

When it comes to cancer, the proverb – ‘Prevention is better than cure’ seems to be very apt. Doctors all over the world believe that most cancers can be treated with the best results if detected at an early stage. It is estimated that in India approximately 70 % lives are taken away in the first year itself, due to late detection. A study conducted also indicated that the survival rate of cancer in India is among the lowest in the world.

These statistics are alarming and makes us wonder if India is actually losing its battle against Cancer

In spite of having world-class medical facilities and advanced treatment options, the increase in cancer mortality rates can be attributed to lack of awareness and absence of timely treatment. Also, what cannot be ignored is our country’s healthcare infrastructure within the rural areas which is not sufficiently equipped to deal with all facets of cancer care – prevention, early detection, treatment and palliative care.

World Cancer Day is the perfect opportunity to increase awareness and spread the word that there is a lot that can be done at an individual, community & governmental level to reduce the burden of cancer in our society. Knowing the facts could save your life or the life of someone you love.

Let’s take part in this global initiative and help India build a string defense in its fight against cancer.

To know more about World Cancer Day, visit the official website: https://www.worldcancerday.org

The Centre for Cancer at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital brings together the expertise within the hospital to provide comprehensive and coordinated care for patients with all types of cancers, including solid tumours and blood related diseases. For details, visit: https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/departments/centresofexcellence/centrefor_cancer.html

Our Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi commenced the Clean India Campaign and stressed on the importance of cleanliness in our surroundings. Although this campaign has successfully made a positive impact on people and created awareness about the topic, it is still surprising that this particular initiative never got as much attention earlier. It’s a well-known fact that a healthy environment and hygienic surrounding has a positive impact on our health. Dumping garbage and leaving toxic waste openly in public places not only damages our own health but also creates an unbearable living condition for other living organisms. A clean environment is one that is completely devoid of filth.

Water is the primary source of life for all life forms. There can be no life without water. It is because of this reason that, water pollution and litter, both are considered to be two of the main causes of the environment being dirty. Here are a few tips that could certainly help in reducing the damage and keeping the environment safe & hygienic for all:

Reduce, Recycle and Reuse – If you follow these 3 rules with everything you use on a daily basis, then it will definitely bring a positive change to the planet. Reduce water consumption and minimize the use of products that contain harmful chemicals, recycle items such as paper & glass and try to utilize disposable items to the fullest before discarding them.

Plant trees – The more trees you plant, the more oxygen there is in the atmosphere. Thus the air we breathe will be safer & cleaner. There are many health benefits of growing a plant at home too.

Do not litter – If there is less trash coming out of your home there will be lesser garbage on the roads and much less pollution in the environment. Do not throw waste materials on the roads, drains, gutters and society compounds as doing so attracts mosquitoes and bacteria that double the risk of diseases and infection. Install garbage cans wherever possible and always throw all refuse in these cans. Cut back carbon footprints causing excess air pollution

Simplify your life – Buying goods and other items that you do not use on a daily basis only adds to the waste items that ultimately goes into our already full landfills. Instead of throwing away unused items, donate them to those who actually have some use for it.

Try to use eco-friendly & bio degradable goods – Use recyclable goods. Avoid using plastic bags for your shopping needs. Conserve energy with minimal usage of electrical appliances. Buy appliances that are not only eco- friendly but energy efficient too.

Illnesses like Cholera, Dengue fever, Malaria, Leptospirosis etc. are all caused due to unclean surroundings. It is easy to put up laws for keeping the surroundings clean, what’s difficult is getting people to follow these laws. By making a few small changes in our habits & lifestyle we can not only keep our environment hygienic but also build a foundation for the next generation to lead a disease-free life.