ARTICLES ON General Health

Do your legs sometimes feel heavy and achy? Do some of the veins on your legs appear swollen and twisted? If so, you may be experiencing varicose veins. Varicose veins are enlarged, swollen, and twisting veins, often appearing blue or dark purple in the legs and ankle region of the body. The truth is, it can progress into a more serious problem if left untreated. Who are at risk Varicose Veins? What is general cause: Veins are a part of your body’s circulatory system. They carry blood from your body’s tissues back to your heart where it picks up oxygen. Cause of varicose veins is generally due to faulty or leaky vein valves. Your veins have one-way valves that keep the blood flowing toward your heart. If the valves are damaged or weakened, rather than flowing back towards your heart blood can back up and pool in your veins, causing them to swell. What are symptoms associated with this condition: Conservative Treatment Surgical Management: Varicose vein treatments usually focus on making the disease vein swell and close permanently. The body routes blood to other veins. The treated vein eventually breaks apart and nearby tissue absorbs the remnants. The surgical treatment is carried out by a vascular surgeon or interventional radiologist. There are treatments available for those who want to rid themselves of varicose veins under the care of a vascular specialist. Sclerotherapy is one treatment option for varicose veins. During this procedure, a vascular specialist will make injections into the varicose veins to help reroute blood flow to healthier veins. Alternatively today, endovenous thermal ablation (EVLT) is carried. The treatment relies on high-frequency radio waves or laser heat to reroute blood to healthier veins and shut down problematic vein. Endovenous thermal ablation (EVLT) EVLA or EVLT, endovenous laser ablation is a minimally-invasive procedure that uses lasers to shrink varicose veins, precisely damaging the lining of veins so blood flow is prevented. EVLA is performed as an outpatient procedure, typically taking well under an hour to perform, with the actual laser treatment only taking a few minutes. Before your procedure, your vein will be carefully mapped using ultrasound technology so the treatment area can be clearly and precisely defined. The advantages of Laser Treatment (Endovenous Laser Treatment-EVLT) is that it is a minimally invasive latest treatment option available for varicose veins that does not require cuts (incisions) or stitches. It is a very safe procedure and leaves no scars. It usually requires a hospital stay for one day and patients can go back to work from the very next day of procedure. If you are experiencing signs and symptoms varicose veins please visit our Interventional Radiology department at Wockhardt Hospital for further treatment and management.

Vow 1: Prioritize Yourself It is important to accept yourself the way you are, and then put yourself infront. This is not being selfish, this is being doubly responsible. Once you become responsible towards yourself, other responsibilities become easier to handle. Happiness sneaks in . Vow 2: Eat Right By this, I mean eat in right quantities, and with right mindset. Whatever diet you choose, make sure that it suits your body constitution. Drinking adequate water is also a part of eating right. It is important to be fit, rather than lean. Vow 3: Sleep Well Sleep always takes a backseat in our life. But it’s time to bring it infront and address it aptly. Atleast six hours of sleep is essential and all the fitness experts will vouch for this one. Vow 4: Exercise Yes, there’s no excuse to hard work. However lethargic you feel, the only way is to get up and go. Begin with thirty mins of work outs and indulge into whichever type of exercise you love. The crux is consistency in doing it. Vow 5: Annual Health Check-Ups We need to know what’s happening to the physiology of our body. It is our right and responsibility too. Whatever routine we are following , whether it is right or needs modification, we have to keep a track of it. That’s exactly where health checks help. They keep you abreast with the physiological changes in your body. If reports give a positive nod, you are on right path. If they show some derangements, correcting and modifying the lifestyle and routine is the answer. Makes sense, isn’t it? Vow 6: Mental and Emotional Exercise We all remember physical part of exercise well, but forget the mental and emotional part of it. Mental fitness is pivotal as it helps to keep your mind calm by giving it some space to calm down . Meditation is a wonderful way of doing it. Meditation can vary from person to person. Do whatever makes you empty your mind of all thoughts . Focus on something that gives you spiritual happiness. Any creative activity can help in this one. For example, being a writer apart from being a doctor, my writing is my mediation. Creativity will help you carve “me” time for yourself. Emotional exercise is all about exhaling out all the negatives. Communication helps. Talk things out. If you feel stuck in an emotional turmoil, talk it out. Find a confidante, converse, seek a shoulder to lean on. Dialogue, discussion, dialect help in dealing with dilemmas and dramas of life immensely. It also eases the clutter in the mind and makes way for good thoughts. A sound mind and sound body go hand in hand. Reach out, really! Vow 7: Awareness About Common Diseases Know about your family medical history, so that you are vigilant about them right from the beginning. Teach your children about the same. Know about common disorders like diabetes, hypertension, thyroid problems, heart diseases, pregnancy related issues, menstrual irregularities. When I say know about them, it’s not just about signs and symptoms, but also about the risk factors leading to them. Apart from family history, factors like smoking, alcohol, irregular food habits, obesity have to be kept in mind. After all prevention is better than cure. Wow!! Seven vows towards healthy life!! They sound so sanctimonious already. All you have to do is, take the first step and you will already be on the road to health. The wings of your good health will automatically spread into your family and then flying high won’t be tough. Last but not the least, be positive and be grateful. Positivity is the biggest motivation in life and gratitude is most happy emotion in life. So dear all, embrace life with these seven vows and celebrate being alive, in true sense. By – Dr. Swapna Khanzode – Consultant-Internal Medicine and Critical Care

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 thumb.  And before you brush it off as a teen problem, you’ll be surprised to know that this problem is not limited to teens alone but also affects 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 her thumb, specifically her right thumb, over four to six months.  Using her phone for more than two hours a day, she suffered from pain. Ignoring it, she was sure that it would go away on its own. However, the pain disappeared for a week.  Later, she noticed the pain again but with increased severity and experienced numbness in thumb 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 Center. 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 at Wockhardt Hospital, says, “This condition 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.” Numbness in Hands: What Your Hands Are Trying to Tell You Let’s be honest. This text you are reading right now is on your cell phone, and your thumb is doing all the clicking. If that thumb seems a little odd recently, feeling tingly, sore, or even numb, you came to the right place.  That numbness in thumb you keep shaking off is worth paying attention to. Let us find out what’s causing it and how you can manage it. Signs to Watch For Your body is good at warning you when something’s wrong. Below is a list of symptoms that suggest it is time to take care of your thumb: Numbness or tingling sensations in your thumb and fingers. Weakness when you grab something, like your mug suddenly feeling too heavy A clicking or catching feeling when you move your thumb Stiffness in the morning that takes a while to ease Trouble holding things or dropping stuff more than usual Numbness waking you up from sleep, which is a classic symptom of carpal tunnel syndrome  Do not worry if you have some of them. Just keep reading further. As stated by Cleveland Clinic, these symptoms start off slowly and come and go, so many people don’t pay attention to them. Who Is Most At Risk? Numbness in hands affects not only older people and office workers anymore. Our thumbs are working harder than ever. You might be more at risk if you’re: A gamer who spends hours on a controller or phone Someone working from home, typing and scrolling all day A social media manager or creator whose job lives on a screen A delivery or gig worker tapping apps between stops A new parent (holding a baby puts your thumb in awkward spots, as shown in this study on De Quervain’s tenosynovitis) Living with arthritis, diabetes, hypothyroidism, or pregnancy   And here’s something interesting. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, women get carpal tunnel syndrome three times more often than men. It comes down to women having a smaller wrist area.  So if you’ve been nodding along, know that you’re in good company. Frequent Use of Phones is a Common Contributor Many patients suffer from ‘numb thumb’. Almost one or two out of 10 cases with thumb issues have a repetitive stress reaction in tendons or joints.  A common reason is a newly purchased smartphone, usually among the 18 to 28 age group and the female population. For gender specificity, a detailed work needs to be carried out for the 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 movements frequently occur while texting on a smartphone and while holding a baby. Is it a Neurological Issue? “‘Numb Thumb’ is more like a repetitive stress injury in the tendons and joints of the thumb; it can lead to degenerative changes in joints and tendons and can cause numbness in thumb.  I would not say it is neurological, as I have not seen that severe a case as of now. But degenerative changes can also affect nerves and can lead to neurological signs,” says Dr. Makwana.  On the other hand, Dr. Hastak says this is not a neurological (nerves) or arthritis (joints) problem, but an overuse problem of the thumb muscles. Treatment For Numb Thumb The best treatment is to give yourself a period of rest once you experience the pain while texting. Try applying ice and resting for a day. Stretch your forearm and your fingers. In case of persistent and severe pain, visit an orthopedist or physiotherapist, Dr. Makwana says. How to Hold Your Phone the Correct Way Most of us hold our cell phones like we’re competing in one-thumb typing games. However, with a few small modifications, you’re good to go: Type using both hands rather than extending a thumb across the entire screen

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.