ARTICLES ON General Health

Leg swelling can occur in any part of the legs, including the feet, ankles, calves and thighs. Leg swelling can result either from fluid build-up (fluid retention) or from inflammation in injured or diseased tissues or joints. Sometimes leg swelling may be a sign of a more-serious disorder, such as heart disease or a blood clot. Complications include difficulty breathing, chest pain or other warning signs of a blood clot in your lungs or a serious heart condition. It can be caused by a problem with the circulatory system, the lymphatic system or the kidneys. Leg swelling caused by the retention of fluid in leg tissues is called oedema. Other cause could be due to being overweight, being inactive, after sitting or standing for a long time, or wearing tight stockings. Some Diseases Causing the Same Include: Other Causes of Swelling in Leg Include Leg swelling can also be caused by inflammation in leg tissues. Inflammation may be a Normal Response to Injury or Disease, this includes

Abdominal bloating not only looks bad but can also cause physical discomfort. Causes of Bloating 13 Tips to Prevent Bloating Naturally

Move over ‘Text Neck’. There’s a new problem on the block and it’s called ‘Numb Thumb’. If you’re a serial texter, chances are that you might be experiencing pain and/or numbness in your thumbs. And before you brush it off as a teen problem, you’ll be surprised to know that this problem is not limited to them alone but even adults, especially professionals who are glued to their phones all the time. Case in point A 24-year-old female recently purchased the latest fancy smartphone, as a gift from her parents. She started feeling pain in the thumb, more specifically right thumb over a period of four to six months. Whenever she used the phone for more than two hours, she would get the pain. She ignored it, thinking it will subside. However, the pain disappeared for a week. Later, she noticed the pain again but with increased severity and experienced numbness as well. It was then that she sought medical help and medication was given accordingly, recalls Dr Nilesh Makwana, director and consulting physiotherapist, Muscle N Mind Physiotherapy Centre. What is a Numb Thumb? “‘Numb Thumb’ is a cause of repetitive stress injury to the thumb or even fingers. Due to repeated stress over the tendons and joints the thumb becomes temporarily numb. That’s because the thumb is more involved most of the time for texting or playing games,” explains Dr Makwana. Dr Shirish Hastak, consultant neurologist, Wockhardt Hospital, says, “This is called De Quervain Tendinopathy. The patient has pain and mild numbness at the base of the thumb and the distal part of the wrist. Movement of the thumb will increase this pain. Texting with the smartphone will definitely produce pain and may be one of the mechanisms of more frequent occurrence of this problem.” Frequent use of phones is a common contributor There are many patients who are suffering from ‘Numb Thumb’. “Almost one or two cases out of 10 cases with thumb issues have repetitive stress reaction in tendons or joints. A common reason found is a newly purchased smartphone, usually among the age group of 18 to 28 years and female population (in his practice), for gender specificity, a detailed work needs to be carried out for actual ratio,” adds Dr Makwana. Dr Hastak has seen a few patients with this problem, the most recent one being a 35-year-old lady who got this problem after delivery. Post pregnancy, this problem may be more common due to the thumb position used to hold a child, which may precipitate this problem. This disorder is mainly related to frequent thumb extension and abduction movements. These are the movements that frequently occur while texting on a smartphone as well as while holding a baby. He says, “In the new world order, the baby is frequently replaced by the smartphone.” Is it a neurological issue? “‘Numb Thumb’ is more like repetitive stress injury in the tendons and joint of the thumb, it can lead to degenerative changes in joints and tendon and can have numbness. I would not say it to be neurological as I have not seen that severe cases as of now. But degenerative changes can also affect nerve and can lead to neurological signs,” says Dr Makwana. On the other hand, Dr Hastak says this is not a neurological (nerves) or a arthritis (joints) problem but a problem of over use of the muscles of the thumb. Treatment For Numb Thumb The best treatment is to give yourself a period of rest once you experience the pain while texting. Try to apply ice and rest for a day. Stretch your forearm and fingers. If the pain is persistent and severe, see a orthopaedic or physiotherapist for further evaluation, advises Dr Makwana. Source :http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/report-do-you-have-a-numb-thumb-2623712

Heart valve surgery fixes a damaged or faulty heart valve. There are two main types of heart valve surgeries: valve repair and valve replacement. Double valve surgery is a surgery where two valves are involved. Sometimes a faulty valve can be repaired by cutting away excess tissue in the cusps of the valve and sewing the edges together. It can be repaired by shortening or connecting the cords that act like hinges on the valve. Special rings called ‘prosthetic rings’ or ‘annuloplasty rings’ can also be used to narrow an enlarged valve and strengthen the repair. Another method used to open a narrowed valve is called ‘balloon valvotomy’. In the valve replacements , the new valve is sewn onto a rim of tissue that is kept from the original valve. Several types of replacement valves are used. These are either biological tissue valves or mechanical valves. Advantage: An advantage of valve repair operations is that usually your own valve tissues are used in the repair. If a valve can’t be repaired, it is sometimes removed and replaced with a new valve. FAQs Will I feel pain after the operation? You will probably feel quite sore, especially in the first few days after the operation. You will receive pain relieving medications and will be monitored by the treating physician. How long will I have to stay in hospital? This varies depending on your condition and your response to surgery. On average, after heart valve surgery, people stay in hospital for six to nine days. What is the duration of such surgeries? These surgeries usually take around 4 to 6 hours. The surgery is performed in the special operation theaters designed for heart surgeries with appropriate infrastructure.

Immunisation describes the process whereby people are protected against illness caused by infection with microorganisms (formally called pathogens). The term vaccine refers to the material used for immunization. A vaccine usually contains an agent resembling disease-causing bacteria. When this biological preparation is injected into your body, your immune system recognizes the agent and destroys it. However, your immune system remembers the agent and next time, when the actual microbe attacks you, it safeguards you against the disease. Vaccines are usually made from the toxins of the killed or weakened microorganism. Importance of Vaccination Getting, immunized costs less than getting treated for the diseases as the vaccines protect you from getting infected and build resistance to the germ. Vaccination not only protects you but also indirectly protects the community. Some Facts on Immunization: Important Reasons to Vaccinate Your Child Adult Immunization Travel Immunization It is important to take vaccines as precautions while traveling to certain countries. For example, yellow fever vaccination is needed by Indians traveling to African countries. We don’t have yellow fever in India yet – but the country has all the favorable parameters for it to thrive quite well. So if someone from India travels to Africa, contracts the disease, and returns to India, they can spread the disease. Similarly, vaccinations against tuberculosis, typhoid, and meningococcal meningitis are required if you travel to the US or European countries. To learn more about vaccines for adults and children please, visit Wockhardt Hospitals.

Parents of a 27-year old man from Virar, who suffered a brain haemorrhage, donated his vital organs to four critically ill patients.Dr Nitin Tiwari conducts procedure that is done first time in Central India, Senior Cardiologist in a Heart Hospitals in Nagpur performed first of its kind procedure of Central India where he implanted a leadless pacemaker in a senior citizen from Madhya Pradesh (MP). This procedure was a life saver for the patient who had run out of options to survive. The procedure is an added achievement to the long list of firsts in Central India by Wockhardt team. An 82-year-old patient had been in heart failure for several months and he required a Pacemaker to keep his heart beating. As the efforts of cardiologist at MP did not yield any result, but developed infection in chest. The patient’s relatives came to Wockhardt hospital and consulted Dr Nitin Tiwari, Senior Consultant – Interventional Cardiologist. After thorough examination, history taking and careful consideration, the patient was suggested for a leadless pacemaker (MICRA). In this instance, MICRA being a leadless pacemaker, the need for skin pocket was not there and hence the chances of pocket infection are negligible, pointed out Dr Nitin Tiwari. The miniaturised leadless pacemaker ‘MICRA’ is the world’s smallest pacemaker and is delivered directly to the heart. It is also 93% smaller than conventional pacemakers, has a mass of 1.75 gm and volume of 0.8 cc. The traditional method of pacemaker impant is done usually by creating a pocket near chest and placing a small metal container housing a battery and the electrical circuitry that regulates the rate of electrical pulses sent to your heart. One to three flexible, insulated wires are each placed in a chamber, or chambers, of your heart and deliver the electrical pulses to adjust your heart rate. Dr Tiwari pointed out, “With conventional pacemakers the risk of pocket infection varies from 1.6 to 2.2 per cent. Usually the risk is more in the second time implantation. The chances of infection are more in diabetics, young males, multiple lead pacemakers and immune-compromised people.” Dr Tiwari also advised patients to undertake pacemaker implantation preferably at a high volume centre so as to decrease the chances of infection. K Sujatha, Centre Head added, “Wockhardt Heart Hospitals has completed 15 years in Nagpur during that time it has performed more than 25,000 procedures and has seen many one of its kind procedures and surgeries. We have Cardiac specialist who have more than 20 years of experience in this field. Dr Nitin and team did excellent work.” Source : http://thehitavada.com/Encyc/2018/12/27/City-Cardiologist-implants-smallest-pacemaker-successfully.aspx Source : https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/82-yr-old-man-first-from-central-india-to-get-leadless-pacemaker-implanted/articleshow/67262971.cms

Good health is the necessity of living a healthy life for every one of us which needs to maintain a healthy diet and healthy habits throughout the life. However, the custom of eating junk food in many is increasing day by day and is going to be a health hazard especially for our future generations. Today, more than 95% of all chronic diseases are caused by food choice, toxic food ingredients, nutritional deficiencies and lack of physical exercise. This is perfectly true for most of the population across the world and it is also true especially for almost all school going children People of all age groups like to eat junk food and they generally chose to eat whenever they enjoy special time with family like birthday party, marriage anniversary, etc. They easily become used to of taking soft drinks, wafers, chips, noodles, burgers, pizza, French fries, Chinese dishes, and other varieties of fast food available in the market. Parents should be very conscious towards the eating habits of their kids and children because in the childhood they never know and decide their good or bad so it is parents who are fully responsible for the good or bad eating habits among their kids. They should train their kids about eating habits from childhood and make them clear about the differences between healthy and junk foods. 12 Harmful Effects of Junk Food Avoid eating junk food and go for balanced diet with all essential nutrients fibres and essentials to avoid health diseases and lead a better quality of life. For more information on healthy diet contact Wockhardt hospital. FAQs on Harmful Effects of Junk Food Q. What are the important harmful effects of junk food? Here are some harmful effects of junk food: Junk food contains a lot of calories, fat, and sugar, among other components that raise one’s calorie intake above what is necessary for metabolism, thereby resulting in obesity. So, consuming such foods increases the chances of contracting chronic disorders, such as diabetes and heart disease. Poor nutrition through junk food that lacks essential nutrients, may lower immunity and make a person more susceptible to diseases and infections. Chronic consumption of junk food has a negative impact on an individual’s mental health, slowing the cognitive ageing process and increasing rates of depression, as well as causing mood fluctuations. Cereals, fruit juices, and cereal-based ready-to-eat foods serve as rich sources of fibre, vitamins, and minerals, which are generally lacking in junk foods. A poor diet primarily composed of junk food not only leads to deficiency-related issues, but also results in the loss of these essential nutrients. Consumption of junk food is often bad for oral health, as it tends to be high in sugar and salts, along with a number of unhealthy fats. Q. What role do the harmful effects of junk food play in the development of type 2 diabetes? Junk food has a high trans and saturated fat content, which can increase blood triglyceride levels, a kind of fat. Type 2 diabetes is more likely to occur in those with high triglyceride levels. Q. How do I know if a food product is a junk food? Junk food is defined as food that is heavy in fats, sugar, or salt but low in nutrients like fibre, vitamins, and minerals. Fast food, convenience meals, sugary snacks, and other highly processed foods with lengthy shelf lives are sometimes categorized as junk food because of their comparatively low nutritional value and possible health hazards. Making informed food choices can be aided by carefully reading nutritional labels and referring to the Health Star Ratings system. Q. How do I make healthy food choices? Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats, to fulfill your body’s nutritional requirements. Look out for ingredients, serving sizes, and nutrition information to avoid processed foods with added sugars, unhealthy fat, or sodium. Plan for healthy meals and snacks beforehand. Make sure you have a selection of colourful food on your plate so that it meets all the nutritional requirements; thus, staying fit. Q. Can I include a small amount of junk food in a healthy diet? One can incorporate a little quantity of junk food or discretionary items into a balanced, healthful diet. This implies that you should limit your intake of junk food to infrequent treats. Q. Does eating junk food cause health difficulty? Absolutely, because junk food contains a lot of harmful fats, carbohydrates, and additives, it may cause a number of health problems if consumed on a daily basis. Consuming junk food over time might cause type 2 diabetes, heart-related issues (such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease), and obesity. Overindulging in junk food can lead to weakened immune systems, impaired cognitive function, and poor health in general.

40 is a milestone when the risk of many health conditions increases. Here are some health concerns that you may find yourself faced with in your 40s:    1) Chronic pain—the risk for arthritis, back pain and other painful conditions like tendonitis and, spondylitis, increases with age.    2) Cardiovascular disease- Blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides and homocysteine levels, our some indicators of your heart which slowly creep upward as you get older, increasing your risk for several serious medical conditions, including heart attack and stroke.    3) Diabetes is a significant health problem in and risk for type 2 diabetes (the most common form of the disease) increases with age    4) Osteoporosis—Peak bone mass (maximum bone density and strength) gradually declines in your 40s and beyond, increasing your risk for osteoporosis—bone loss that can lead to fractures and other problems. After menopause, women are at even higher risk for this condition. A healthy diet and regular weight-bearing exercise, including strength training, can help prevent osteoporosis.    5) Anxiety and depression—it’s important to take care of your mental health in your 40s. Changes in mood are a normal part of life, but extreme anxiety, loss of interest and energy, an inability to experience pleasure, withdrawal from usual activities and interactions, and apathy toward important matters is not.    6) Skin problems—adult acne, sun damage, age spots and wrinkles—often concerns for 40-somethings.    7) Sexual and reproductive health is an important part of overall health in your 40s. Common issues include sexual dysfunction (e.g., female sexual dysfunction, erectile dysfunction), sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and infections (STIs) including HIV/AIDS, and contraception.    8) Urinary incontinence, overactive bladder and digestive problems, including ulcers, are other conditions that are more common in people over the age of 40.    9) Hormonal changes including perimenopause in women is a common occurrence and brings it with both physiological changes in women and psychological. In the same way men may experience symptoms of testosterone deficiency, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, enlarged prostate) or transient erectile dysfunction.    10) Changes in vision and hearing loss are also relatively common problems for people in their 40s. Preventive health care and screening is essential during this time to rule out any underlying health concerns or to alert oneself of the same. At Wockhardt Hospital we place a great emphasis on the value Preventive care as an important speciality as well. The service shifts the focus of health care from treating sickness to maintaining wellness and good health. The program is designed in ruling out various risk factors and diagnosing abnormalities and is designed to prevent or delay the onset of illness and disease. Most people younger than 40 years of age are generally free from diseases that could be diagnosed by physical examination alone. In this age group, health problems usually show specific signs or symptoms that would prompt you to seek medical attention It is now recommended that medical check-ups be referred to as Periodic Health Assessments or Examinations and they be performed every five years (for adults over 18) until age 40 and every one to three years thereafter. The requirements are for more frequent evaluations for those taking prescription and medications. The health packages in Mumbai at Wockhardt hospital comprise of Basic Health Check-up, Premium Health Check-up and Executive Heath check-up. All our packages have been carefully designed by a team of doctors for evaluation of haematological, lipid profile, systemic profile, cancer profile (kidney, liver, heart) and other diagnostic investigations taking into consideration common disease affecting the Indian scenario. The packages cater to specific age groups and have a battery of recommended tests to choose from. Your complete report is evaluated by our renowned and established consultants for further management. The preventive health care packages are designed encompassing a healthy lifestyle, exercise, diet and physical evaluation and doctors’ advice. Prevention is better than cure cannot be as well emphasised with health check programs at the hospital. To know more about our health checkup packages and how you can avail the same please contact our centres at Wockhardt Hospital.

The thyroid gland is a tiny gland but performs numerous functions. It is Butterfly-shaped structure; located in front of your windpipe (trachea) below the thyroid cartilage. The main function of the thyroid gland is to produce and releases hormones that regulate metabolism, heart function, digestion, muscle control, bone strength, energy levels, and even mental states. In women thyroid diseases are very common and are generally overlooked. Thyroid diseases are more prevalent right after pregnancy or menopause, a time when your body is adjusting to so many changes. Thyroid problems can cause severe heart problems, stroke, brittle bones, loss of consciousness, or other serious health problems. Therefore it is essential that it is important to get a thyroid screening (blood test) to know and assess whether the thyroid gland is functioning optimally or not. The two most common conditions of the thyroid gland are: Symptoms vary accordingly in both conditions: Hypothyroidism Hyperthyroidism Weight gain Weight loss Slowed heart rate Increased heart rate, blood pressure and heart palpitations Tired or sluggish Anxiety Hair loss Insomnia Feeling cold more often than usual Restlessness Dry skin Irritability Brittle nails Hair loss Numbness or tingling in the hands Excessive sweating and an aversion to heat Constipation Muscle weakness or trembling hands Abnormal menstrual periods Vision problems Diarrhoea Irregular menstrual periods Thyroid disorders are assessed easily via blood test, and can usually be treated effectively with medication and/or a dietary regimen. In rare cases, surgery may be indicated. At Wockhardt Hospital, our team of endocrinologists diagnose and treat patients with thyroid disorders including hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer. The goals established for treatment of Thyroid treatment basically involve At Wockhardt Hospital, our endocrinology department is supported by state of the art diagnostic services. The clinic carries out a complete thyroid profile, ultrasound, fine needle aspiration cytology, isotope scanning, radio-iodine treatment and surgery. If you have any of the above symptoms, please visit out Endocrinology department at Wockhardt Hospital for a proper evaluation and treatment.

A 40-year-old patient came to the Wockhardt Hospitals in Mumbai in a serious condition, he was not able to speak and had weakness in the limbs. The emergency medical team adopted the Code White protocol Code White’ which is a metaphoric alert button pushed at the emergency department at the hospital by team of nurses and doctors. As part of the Emergency Neurological Life Support (ENLS) in neurological emergencies, a brain resuscitation team reached the emergency room within 5 minutes and within 15 minutes; an MRI was done for a conclusive diagnosis. This resuscitation was critical for the patient and he was rushed to remove the clot in his brain. The patient miraculously recovered and a permanent stroke was averted for the patient. The patient was grateful to Wockhardt Hospitals emergency services and Dr Hastak for his diligence and advancement in medical services at the facility. The ENLS protocol is established by Dr Shirish Hastak a very experienced neurologist and stroke expert at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai central. The brain resuscitation neurological emergency is first of its kind in India. All 5 emergency doctors and 16 emergency nurses at the hospital are USA certified to implement ENLS protocols. Wockhardt Hospitals is the first healthcare provider in India to have their emergency staff fully ENLS (Emergency Neurological Life Support) USA certified. The ENLS will help doctors manage and improve patient’s outcome in the critical first hour of a neurological emergency. The practise adopted at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai central is very beneficial in saving many lives and reduces the chance of the stroke progressing in many cases. The protocol creates a multi-disciplinary approach and provides a checklist or decision pints and sets a communication for patient management. The ENLS not only manages stroke, but also seizure, encephalopathy, traumatic brain/spine injury, brain infections and systematic approach to coma. For further queries please visit our neurology services at the hospital