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Stay Healthy with a Strong Immunity

Jan 8th, 2022

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Stay Healthy with a Strong Immunity

Saturday, January 8th, 2022

Is everybody around you feeling sick or recovering from a respiratory infection? Depending on how powerful their immune system is, some people will experience moderate symptoms while others would be seriously affected. Your immune system is a large network of organs, white blood cells, proteins (antibodies), and chemicals. This system works together to protect you from foreign invaders (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites) that cause infection, illness, and disease. A normally functioning immune system keeps you healthy by fighting off harmful foreign intruders such as bacteria and viruses. However, a weak immune system makes it difficult for your body to fight external infections. A weak immunity makes you more vulnerable to infections, can produce unpleasant symptoms, and takes longer recovery periods too. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and consuming healthy foods go a long way in increasing your immunity.

Nutrition and Immunity

Eating enough nutrients as part of a varied diet is required for the health and function of all cells, including immune cells. Choosing fresh, whole, unprocessed foods does wonders for your overall health. Several nutrient-rich foods, particularly those that include vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc, selenium, iron, and protein are important to help boost your immunity. Limit your intake of salt and sugar and avoid consumption of fried foods. Here are a few recommended foods to help strengthen your immune system:

  • Vitamin C
    Vitamin C is well-known for its immunity-boosting properties. It is best consumed in fresh form than in packaged juice. Include oranges, broccoli, kiwi or bell peppers in your diet.
  • Probiotics
    Probiotics are healthy gut bacteria that protect your body against infection. Fermented foods such as idli and dosa, curd, buttermilk, and pickles are excellent sources of probiotics.
  • Antioxidants
    Stress can reduce your immunity, making you more susceptible to sickness. Have a diet rich in antioxidants to protect yourself from oxidative stress and build a strong immune system. This includes colourful fruits and vegetables such as berries, carrots, pumpkin, spinach, etc.
  • Eat anti-inflammatory foods
    A diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods helps balance hormones, improves your body’s ability to fight infection, and improves your digestive health. Dark leafy green vegetables, nuts, and seeds, ghee, avocado, olive oil are all good examples of anti-inflammatory foods.
  • Add protein to your diet
    The amino acids in protein help the body manufacture antibodies and can help protect you against a wide range of infections.
  • Omega-3 fatty acids
    These are essential fats that your body cannot make but must be procured from food. Foods high in omega-3 include fish, vegetable oils, walnuts, flax seeds, flaxseed oil, and leafy vegetables. They are essential to maintain strong immunity.
  • Ginger and garlic can help
    Make ginger and garlic a part of your daily diet. Garlic’s antibacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities aid to improve the function of your immune cells. Ginger, on the other hand, reduces inflammation and strengthens the immune system due to its antibacterial characteristics.

Lifestyle Improvements

It is not just the diet you eat on a daily basis that makes you healthy and strong., but your lifestyle habits matter too. Adapting good and healthy habits consistently can significantly improve your immune function and make you stronger. Follow these simple health tips to increase immunity naturally:

  • Find ways to manage stress
    Are you busy handling various responsibilities and chasing deadlines? Being stressed all the time lowers your immunity. Take frequent breaks and find ways to cope better with stress.
  • Get adequate sleep
    Lack of sleep releases higher levels of stress hormones in the body and this can cause more inflammation in the body. A regular sleep cycle serves as the ideal time for the body to regenerate cells, repair any broken cells and organs, and thus boost your immune function.
  • Say No to smoking and drinking alcohol
    Excessive cigarette use and alcohol intake weakens the immune system and makes people more susceptible to lung infections. Furthermore, other substances generated during cigarette smoking, such as carbon monoxide and nicotine, have been shown to inhibit the formation of immunity-boosting cells.
  • Exercise regularly
    Exercise increases your resilience so you can fight off infection. Your body can function better when you are physically active every day.
  • Get enough sunlight
    Vitamin D is important for your immune system, and regular sun exposure can assist to enhance it. Take some morning sunlight every day to help strenhtne your immunity.
  • Meditation
    Even five minutes of guided meditation every day, or simply sitting quietly and concentrating on your breath, can help. Meditation helps relieve your anxiety and thus strengthens your immunity.
  • Preventive health checkup
    Regular health checkups help detect diseases early and start treatment early. This helps correct any irregularities with timely medical intervention and thus helps maintain your immunity.

Follow these healthy lifestyle tips to build a strong defence against any external pathogens, virus or bacteria. Stay healthy, stay safe.   

Nutritional Needs of the Elderly

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2020

Staying away from your parents? Constantly worried about their well-being? Concerned about an elderly family member with poor health? The elderly are more vulnerable to develop chronic health conditions due to their weak immune system and dietary deficiencies. Educate your loved ones about the importance of good nutrition and support them in every possible way to meet their health requirements. A healthy diet helps senior citizens increase their immunity and stay healthy.

Why Nutrition Matters?
After crossing 60 years of age, seniors may need more sleep, less physical exertion, and different types of foods than they needed before. Aging changes one’s nutritional needs and appetite, older people may eat less, but need nutrient-rich meals. The aging process involves changes in the physiological, pathological, social, and psychological conditions of a person. Nutrition is an important element of health among the elderly, and it affects the whole process of aging. As you age, your body becomes less efficient at absorbing some key nutrients and some foods become difficult to chew or digest. Poor nutrition may lead to a decline in various bodily functions, impaired muscle function, decreased bone mass, weakened immunity, reduced cognitive function, poor wound healing, and delayed recovery from surgery.

Nutritional Health Tips for the Elderly

Here are some key nutrients that must be included in the diet of the elderly. These help fight the problems of aging make them resilient:

  • Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin involved in bone health, muscle health, immunity, and cognition. Sunlight is the best source, but aging reduces the ability to absorb it well. Speak to your doctor and take a supplement if required.
  • Calcium is a mineral involved in bone health, muscle health, nerve transmission, and hormone secretion. Include milk and dairy products, green leafy vegetables, soya bean, broccoli, figs, etc in your diet.
  • Vitamin B-6 is a water-soluble vitamin that plays a role in metabolism, immunity, and is involved in over 100 different enzyme reactions in the body. Get your required intake by including a wide variety of different foods like banana, rice, chickpeas, paneer, spinach, etc. in your diet.
  • Vitamin B-12 is involved in DNA creation, red blood cell formation, and nerve function. The absorption of vitamin B-12 may decrease with age and seniors are usually recommended fortified foods or supplements.
  • Fiber plays an important role in digestion, preventing constipation, and even reducing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers. Include plenty of fruits and vegetables in your diet.
  • Protein is a macro-nutrient found in every single cell in the body and is very essential for life. Protein also aids in immunity, maintaining muscle, and maintaining physical function in seniors. A protein deficiency can cause malnutrition or muscle loss. Lentils and legumes, eggs, oats, milk and dairy products, nuts and seeds are good sources of protein.
  • Getting enough potassium in your diet helps keep your bones strong. This essential mineral is vital for cell function, controls blood pressure levels, and reduces the risk of kidney stones. Fruits and vegetables like bananas, plums, prunes, and potatoes with their skin are rich in potassium.
  • Magnesium plays a crucial role in some 300 different physiological processes. Fill your plate with as many unprocessed foods as possible, including fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, beans and seeds, all of which are great sources of magnesium.
  • Omega-3 fatty acids are unsaturated fats, that help ease the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and also help improve your cognitive skills.  Consumption of fish, soybeans, walnuts, flaxseed, chia seeds, and canola oil are helpful.

Do you need a personalized diet plan to help manage certain health conditions? Consult our highly experienced dieticians from the comfort of your home over an online consultation or visit us personally. Our team caters to the needs of the elderly with utmost compassion and expertise. Please find the below website link for further details:

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

Stay Healthy and Safe this Diwali

Thursday, November 12th, 2020

One of the most celebrated Indian festivals, Diwali is just around the corner. It symbolizes the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. 2020 has been a challenging year for many people in different ways. It has taught people to be grateful for their health, family, friends, and to never take anything for granted. Everyone is looking forward to the festive and joyous Diwali season to light up a smile and celebrate with family and friends, aren’t you?

Let us welcome Diwali this year with festive cheer and love while ensuring the health and safety of your loved ones. Celebrate responsibly while following the required health precautions. Protect the vulnerable members of your family – the elderly, pregnant women, children below 10 years, and people with co-morbidities.

Here are a few health tips to keep in mind to celebrate a healthy and safe Diwali this year:

  • Avoid large gatherings
    While you might get tempted to organize or attend Diwali dinners with family and friends, it is best to keep the guest list small. It is recommended to celebrate Diwali at home with your family. However, if you are meeting others do not forget to maintain physical distancing, continue the use of face masks and wash your hands frequently with soap and water.
  • Plan virtual celebrations
    Cannot meet your extended family due to health restrictions and travel limitations? Organise a zoom call with your family and friends. Plan a  virtual dinner by deciding a mutual time in advance and dressing up to feel festive. This Diwali, celebrate differently and connect with your loved ones safely.
  • Lamp/ Diya safety
    Make sure you keep the lamps away from curtains, electrical wires, and other inflammable objects. Always keep babies and pets away from diyas. Refrain from using hand sanitizers which are alcohol-based before lighting candles, and diyas. This is because hand sanitizers are inflammable and may cause fire accidents.
  • Boost your immunity
    Have a diet that is rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, vitamin C, magnesium, zinc, and omega 3 fatty acids. These nutrients help to strengthen the overall immunity of your body and fight off infections. Stay away from processed foods as they lower your immunity.
  • Stay hydrated 
    Keep your body hydrated by sipping water throughout the day. This helps prevent indigestion and acidity and detoxifies your body. Stay away from aerated drinks, packaged juices, and alcohol as it is dehydrating. Adequate intake of water hydrates your skin and keeps it radiant and glowing for the festive season.
  • Limit your sugar intake
    It is difficult to avoid sweets during this season but you must choose naturally sweetened mithais made from healthy sugar substitutes like dates, jaggery, raisins, honey, etc. This will prevent weight gain, avoid spike in blood sugar levels, and other lifestyle diseases. Relish your Diwali sweets guilt-free.
  • Stay active
    Start your day with some simple exercises like yoga, running, cycling, take the stairs when possible to keep yourself energized and to help maintain your weight. Regular exercise helps boost your immune system.
  • Say “No” to crackers
    The toxic smoke from crackers increases the incidence of respiratory symptoms like cough, wheezing, or burning sensation in the eyes. The increased air pollution poses a high risk for people suffering from asthma, COPD, or other respiratory ailments. Noisy crackers disturb the elderly and infants and may also cause hearing loss or high blood pressure.

Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital wishes you and your family a happy and safe Diwali. We are committed to keeping you and your family safe. Our Accident and Emergency team is available 24/7 for any medical emergencies and provides the fastest response time. Call us on 022 42699999 for emergency services. Please find the below link for our Centre for Accident & Emergency:

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

Your Mental Health Matters

Saturday, July 18th, 2020

Mental health refers to cognitive, behavioural, and emotional well-being. It is all about how people think, feel, and behave. A good mental health also means the absence of a mental disorder. Your mental health affects your ability to cope with stress, overcome challenges, build relationships, and recover from life’s setbacks and hardships. According the World Health Organization (WHO), mental illness makes about 15% of the total disease conditions around the world.

Common mental health disorders

One in four people in the world will be affected by mental disorders at some point in their lives. Treatments are available, but nearly two-thirds of people with a known mental disorder never seek help from a health professional. Stigma, discrimination, and neglect prevent care and treatment from reaching people with mental disorders.

The most common types of mental illness are:

Anxiety disorders
People with these conditions have severe fear or anxiety, which relates to certain objects or situations. Restlessness, fatigue, tense muscles, disturbed sleep are some physical symptoms.

Mood disorders
People with these conditions have significant changes in mood, generally involving either mania, which is a period of high energy and elation, or depression. Examples of mood disorders include:

  • Major depression: An individual with major depression experiences a constant low mood and loses interest in activities and events that they previously enjoyed. They can feel prolonged periods of sadness or extreme sadness.
  • Bipolar disorder: A person with bipolar disorder experiences unusual changes in their mood, energy levels, levels of activity, and ability to continue with daily life.
  • Postpartum Depression: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a type of depression that affects some women after giving birth to an infant. Symptoms include sadness, changes in sleeping and eating patterns, anxiety, and irritability.

Panic disorders
People with a panic disorder experience regular panic attacks, which involve sudden, overwhelming terror or a sense of imminent disaster and death.

Phobias
There are different types of phobia:

  • Simple phobias: These might involve a disproportionate fear of specific objects, scenarios, or animals. Fear of closed spaces called claustrophobia is a common example.
  • Social phobia: Sometimes known as social anxiety, this is a fear of being subject to the judgment of others. People with social phobia often restrict their exposure to social environments. 

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
PTSD can occur after a person experiences or witnesses a deeply stressful or traumatic event. During this type of event, the person thinks that their life or other people’s lives are in danger.

Schizophrenia disorders
Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder in which people interpret reality abnormally. Schizophrenia may result in some combination of hallucinations, delusions, and extremely disordered thinking and behaviour that impairs daily functioning.

Top tips for good mental health
Taking care of your mental and emotional health is as important as your physical health. Here are a few health tips to keep yourself mentally healthy:

Get plenty of sleep
Sleep helps to regulate the chemicals in your brain that transmit information. These chemicals are important in managing your moods and emotions. Lack of sleep can make you feel depressed or anxious.

Eat a healthy diet
Certain mineral deficiencies, such as iron and vitamin B12 deficiencies, can make you feel low. Have a healthy and balanced diet.

Avoid alcohol, smoking, and drugs
Drinking and smoking negatively impact your mental health. It can make you feel more depressed and anxious.

Get plenty of sunlight
Sunlight is a great source of vitamin D. Vitamin D helps your brains to release chemicals that improve your mood, like endorphins and serotonin.

Manage stress
Stress is often unavoidable, but knowing what triggers your stress and knowing how to cope is key in maintaining good mental health. Meditation helps reduce your stress level.

Activity and exercise
Activity and exercise are essential in maintaining good mental health. Regular exercise promotes the release of feel-good brain chemicals.

Do something you enjoy
Take out some “me time” to do fun things you enjoy. Listen to music, take up a hobby or watch a TV show you enjoy to relax and unwind.

Stay connected
Staying in touch with friends and family is important not just for your self-esteem, but also for providing support when you’re not feeling too great.

Mental health in India

India shares a huge global burden of mental health diseases. Be it childhood mental disorders like autism or adult conditions such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and psychosis or dementia in old age, the world is facing a challenge in the form of mental illness. The deep stigma around mental health in India contributes to denial and shame among the patients. They fear seeking medical help for their problems. People experiencing mental health problems must seek timely medical help just like they would for other physical health problems.

Seek professional help

One of the most important ways to keep yourself mentally healthy is to recognise when you’re not feeling good and to know when to ask for help. Remove the stigma around mental health. If you’ve made consistent efforts to improve your mental and emotional health and still aren’t functioning optimally at home, work, or in your relationships, it may be time to seek professional help.

Consult highly trained psychiatrists and psychologists at our Department of Psychiatry to help address your mental health problems. At Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital we also provide online consultations through video calls from the safety of your home. Please find below link for more details: https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/departments/clinicaldepartments/psychiatry.html

Healthy you = Healthy nation

Sunday, January 26th, 2020

Are you healthy?

Are you happy?

Is your poor health hampering your professional life?

Chronic diseases and ailments can affect your performance at work, lead to poor concentration and may add to your sick leaves. A good physical and mental health makes an important contribution to the economic progress of the nation. Healthy populations live longer, are more productive, and save more.

India stands to lose $4.58 trillion due to non-communicable diseases and mental disorders between 2012 and 2030, an amount more than double India’s annual GDP, according to a report. Out of this, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) will account for $2.17 trillion and mental health conditions $1.03 trillion for the majority of the economic loss. This report has been released by the World Economic Forum and the Harvard School of Public Health.

Why is India unhealthy?

Unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, air pollution, harmful use of alcohol and tobacco consumption, lack of awareness is the main reason behind the development of NCDs. A non-communicable disease (NCD) is a disease that is not transmissible directly from one person to another. NCDs include most cancers, heart diseases, Parkinson’s disease, autoimmune diseases, strokes, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, cataracts, and others. World Health Organization estimates that an estimated 60 per cent of all deaths in India are due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Top 10 killers in India

The latest Global Burden of Disease study lists ailments that are triggering most deaths and disabilities in India. Here is the list:

1. Heart Disease causes 17.8% of all deaths.

Cases of heart attacks are increasing day by day and an increasing number of cases are affecting younger people.

2. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) causes 8.66% of all deaths.

The human lungs have a holding capacity of 3.5 litres. After 30 years of age, it declines by 10-30 ml per year, if a person does not exercise. However, in COPD patients, it declines faster, almost 100 ml per year which harms the functioning of your lungs. 

3. Diarrhoea causes 7.94% of all deaths.

Diarrhoea kills just a little less than COPD. In all age groups, it is the third-largest killer in India. 

4. Cerebrovascular diseases cause 7.09% of all deaths

This includes neurological diseases like brain strokes and cases of internal bleeding.

5. Cancer causes 6% of all deaths.

According to WHO, India has a cancer mortality rate of 79 per 100,000 deaths and accounts for over 6 percent of total deaths.

6. Lower Respiratory Tract Infections (LRI) cause 5.06% of all deaths.

These include pneumonia and influenza infections. Antibiotics often prove ineffective in today’s drug-resistant strains. This disease strikes the old and young alike.

7. Tuberculosis (TB) causes 4.45% of all deaths.

Cases of Tuberculosis are often misdiagnosed and not treated appropriately which leads to many deaths by TB.

8. Diabetes causes 3.11% of all deaths.

India has an estimated number of 6.5 crore diabetics. Uncontrolled blood sugar leads to many diabetes complications like and may damage your retina, kidneys, nerves, and arteries. A diabetic lives 7-8 years less than a normal person.

9. Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) causes 2.39% of all deaths.

The reason CKD is such a huge problem is that there is a very high incidence of obesity and hypertension in our country. These are major risk factors for CKD.

10. Suicide causes 2.35% of all deaths.

Of eight lakh suicides across the world annually, 1,35,000 are from India.

Tips to stay healthy 

As we celebrate our 71st Republic day on this 26th January 2020, let us commit to making some healthy lifestyle changes in our life. A healthy population means a healthy country and it goes a long way in contributing to the economic growth of the country. Here are a few tips to maintain optimum health and minimize your risk of diseases:

  1. Quit smoking.
  2. Eat healthy.
  3. Exercise regularly.
  4. Manage your blood sugar levels.
  5. Limit alcohol intake.
  6. Say no to junk food.
  7. Stay hydrated.
  8. Monitor your blood pressure level.
  9. Check your cholesterol levels.
  10. Maintain personal hygiene.

Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital completes 11 years of offering expert medical care in Mumbai on 26th January 2020. We have been ranked no. 1 fourth time in a row as the best multispecialty hospital in Mumbai and western India. We are the only hospital in Mumbai with a Full Time Specialist System (FTSS) ensuring easy availability and access to dedicated specialists. Our hospital is equipped with state of the art infrastructure and world-class technology that helps deliver consistent and safe patient care. Feel free to get in touch with our medical experts for any health-related issues, diagnosis and treatment options. Please find below link of our website for more details: www.kokilabenhospital.com

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