ARTICLES ON General Health

In a medical feat, surgery was performed in the city to repair windpipe of a 22-year-old girl suffering from an extremely rare medical condition called ‘Multi-level tracheal and bronchial stenosis’. Dr Sameer Arbat, who repaired the windpipe, told TOI that the girl complained of shortness of breath and fall in oxygen levels. She had been undergoing treatment for bronchial asthma for the past one year. “A CT scan of the thorax revealed ‘Multi-level tracheal and bronchial stenosis’. It means narrowing of the windpipe at different levels which was not letting her breathe,” said Dr Arbat. Multi level stenosis or narrowing of airway is a very rare condition encountered in less than 1% of world population. In this girl’s case, the trachea or main windpipe had only a pin hole opening at the level of narrowing, thus obstructing 95% of air supply to both the lungs. Complicating the condition was 70% narrowing of right lung windpipe and 40% narrowing of left lung windpipe. “The narrowing had also led to stagnation of secretions in both lungs, causing pneumonia of right and left lung. Without non-invasive ventilation support, she was unable to breathe,” said Dr Arbat. The team of doctors decided to perform procedure of multi level tracheal dilatation and Y stent installation inside the windpipe. The surgery was conducted at Wockhardt Hospitals. The three-hour long procedure started by opening up the pin hole narrowing by cutting it with heated knife. Multiple sessions of sequential ballon dilatation were performed to open the narrowing at three different levels. Dimensions of the patient’s windpipe was measured and a silicone Y stent was customised. The stent was deployed to keep the windpipe open and prevent it from narrowing again. The patient was discharged after reporting relief from complaints and is keeping healthy even one month after the procedure. Tracheal stents are rarely used and are still undergoing evolution in terms of sizes and materials. According to the records with lung specialists’ association, it was the first case of Silicone Y stent installation in Central India, and only the third in the country in the past three years. “I have performed several metallic Y Stent placements in patients of lung cancer but this was the first Silicone Y stent deployed in a young patient with benign condition,” said Dr Arbat adding that it could not have been possible without the support of anaesthetist and OT team at Wockhardt Hospitals. Wockhardt Hospitals, Nagpur Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/rare-surgery-helps-22-year-old-breathe-easy/articleshow/90577972.cms

Black hairy tongue is a common condition that happens due to poor dental hygiene says experts, and it is usually harmless. A thick black ‘hairy’ coat on tongue can be really scary and make anybody wonder about the root cause of the problem. A man in his 50s who suffered from stroke three months back and was on a liquid diet apart from some medications, developed this harmless condition. According to reports, the patient was taken to the hospital after his black tongue developed yellow stains as the liquid food got stuck in the coat. However, the solution to his trouble turned out to be quite simple and his tongue cleared up within 20 days. Black hairy tongue is a common condition that happens due to poor dental hygiene says experts and it is usually harmless. It is mostly painless and is common in people above 40, those who smoke and drink, consume excessive amounts of coffee, have malignancy or are on certain medications. Usually, the condition goes away in its own, but in case it’s not, one must consult an expert. What is black hairy tongue “Black hairy tongue is a relatively common disease that classically manifests as a black and hairy appearing lesion on the dorsum of the tongue arising from abnormally hypertrophied and elongated filiform, says Dr Sushma Yadav. What exactly happens to your tongue in this condition “In this condition, the front 2/3rd of the tongue which has this conical projections, become enlarged in size and become brownish yellow and black. The tip of the sides of the tongue often don’t have this as much. The main problem is its unsightly experience and the patients might also complain a burning or tickling sensation on the tongue, very bad breath and nausea,” says Dr. Sravya C Triperni. Symptoms Blackish discolouration of the tongue, dryness, halitosis or bad breath, metallic taste in mouth. Treatment Though the condition usually recovers on its own in some time, one has to identify any drug that might be causing it. “Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol. Always encourage very good oral hygiene and gentle tongue scraping with a soft toothbrush and a solution containing 3 per cent hydrogen peroxide will help apart from antiseptic mouthwash. If there is an associated fungal agent given then that also helps,” says Dr Triperni. “Treatment includes gentle debridement in the clinic, maintenance of good oral hygiene, avoiding dry mouth by keeping tongue moist in bedridden patients, appropriate use of mouthwashes. Fungal infection or Carcinoma tongue can be a differential diagnosis, so a biopsy may be done in certain patients. Smoking and alcohol use are predisposing factors,” says Dr Shraddha Despande, Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Wockhardt Hospital. Dr Shraddha Despande, Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Wockhardt Hospital. Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/stroke-survivor-develops-black-hairy-tongue-know-all-about-this-condition-from-experts-101647266103259.html

Technology is helping every aspect of human lives. For cerebral palsy patients, simple apps are being developed, which help to improve their communication if they are facing speech problems. High-end medical technology in the form of computerised gait analysis, as well as special implantable medication pumps, are helpful for patients with cerebral palsy. On February 28, 2022, news broke out about the death of Zain Nadella the son of Microsoft Executive Chairman and CEO, Satya Nadella. Zain was only 26 six years of age at the time of his passing. Zain was born with cerebral palsy (CP). CP is a congenital disorder of movement, muscle tone, the posture that occurs due to the damage caused to the brain and accounts for the most common motor disability in childhood. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the year 2000, the prevalence rate of cerebral palsy in the US was 3.1 per 1000 children. A report by the Indian Institute of CP states that in India approximately 33,000 people suffer from cerebral palsy. They also report that when looking at the worldwide incidence rate, one in 500 born babies suffers from cerebral palsy. Early Detection Can Prevent Morbidity Currently, there are no definitive tests to detect CP, but good nutrition, proper medical care and rubella vaccination before pregnancy can prevent the chances of the child developing cerebral palsy. There are also many soft signs of CP which can be picked up at early stages. If these are picked up on time and appropriate treatment is instituted, morbidity can largely be prevented. “Early detection of cerebral palsy is crucial for early initiation of therapy which can significantly improve motor and cognitive outcomes in these children. Regular checkups by child healthcare nurses and paediatricians can help in picking up these patients early. This is helped by using various motor assessment or performance scales and neurological examination and where indicated (based on clinical evaluation) MRI(BRAIN),” said Dr Prashant Makhija, Consultant Neurologist, Wockhardt Hospital. Morbidity of Cerebral Palsy with Other Disorders Research is still ongoing for the treatment of CP, multidisciplinary treatment is currently most effective in managing CP. Dr Vaidehi Dande, shared, “Early intervention therapy improved the outcome to a great extent. This involves identifying babies at risk of CP as early on as possible and facilitating their brain function by stimulating special senses. This involves the provision of auditory, visual, smell and tactile stimulation. Facilitating postures and regular physiotherapy goes a long way in helping these children gain milestones faster. Hearing deficits can be dealt with using cochlear implants. Such children also commonly develop seizures and epilepsy and a lot of new drugs can be used to control the seizures. Various orthoses and prostheses are greatly helpful in enabling these children to do their day to day activities.” Dr Nisha Deshpandey, added, “Caseness of other disorders is found more in patients suffering from cerebral palsy. Many children suffer from epilepsy and mental retardation. About 25 per cent of children with cerebral palsy might have an intelligence quotient (IQ) of less than 50. Typically, the infant or child might reach developmental milestones (like rolling over, neck control, sitting, crawling etc) later than other children. Autism spectrum disorder is also very prevalent among children suffering from cerebral palsy. Other mental health problems are also highly prevalent among them. Assistive Tech Therapies in Treating CP Technology is helping every aspect of human lives. For cerebral palsy patients, simple apps are being developed, which help to improve their communication if they are facing speech problems. High-end medical technology in the form of computerised gait analysis, as well as special implantable medication pumps, are helpful for patients with cerebral palsy. Elucidating in detail about these assistive technologies, Dr Saurabh Chopra, mentioned, “Besides children with very severe damage or malformation of the brain, most patients with cerebral palsy benefit significantly from rehabilitation programmes and therapies including neurodevelopmental therapy. Although stem cells may hold promise as a research modality to prevent cerebral palsy currently there are no benefits of using stem cells in children already affected by cerebral palsy.” “Technology in cerebral palsy is helpful mostly in rehabilitation. They have the potential to improve the ability of individuals with cerebral palsy to perform activities and increase participation. Robotics and virtual reality may improve movement by maximising exercise dose, providing feedback and motivating users. Augmentative and alternative communication technology is facilitating communication. Robots can help with self-care and provide motivation and instruction in rehabilitation programmes. Mobile applications can provide educating resources,” added Dr Darpan Thakre. Commenting on how newer therapies are proving to be beneficial for children afflicted with CP, Dr Usha Mallinath, said, “Smaller, more portable rehabilitation technology has the potential to improve the ability of individuals with cerebral palsy to perform activities and increase participation. The application of advanced technologies in paediatric rehabilitation to improve performance and enhance everyday functioning has shown considerable promise. Robotics and virtual reality may improve movement by maximising exercise dose, providing feedback, and motivating users. Augmentative and alternative communication technology is facilitating communication. Robots can help with self-care and provide encouragement and instruction in rehabilitation programmes. Mobile applications can provide education and resources. Many parents report that the condition of the child deteriorates with time. Cerebral palsy might be mistaken with other progressive neurological disorders because of the apparent change in pattern and severity of movement problems. However, in cerebral palsy, the underlying neurological problem does not worsen. Most of the children with cerebral palsy are born with the condition. However, the symptoms might not necessarily be visible at birth. During the first few months of life, the symptoms may get more noticeable. Good nutrition, regular antenatal visits, hospital delivery, availability of neonatologists at the time of delivery please ensure the adequacy of feeding after birth and providing a clean and hygienic environment to the newborn. Prevention of prematurity and low birth weight, good medical and neonatal intensive care facilities to provide medical care for sick babies. Particular mention of

Sneezing may be unpleasant, but you may face some potential complications if you suppress it. During the Covid-19 pandemic, one dare not sneeze in public, not even with their mask on! Isn’t it? But Covid-19 or not, some people just generally try to hold their sneeze in if they are with someone or in a professional space. So, sometimes stifling a sneeze may seem appropriate, but a study recently published research report showed the damage that suppressing a sneeze can do.  If simply put, holding your sneeze is dangerous because of the energy it produces. A sneeze generates a significant pressure and when you hold the pressure, it can cause a rupture of your eardrums, irritation of the throat, and even in severe cases, rupture of blood vessels in your eyes or brain.  1. Eardrum ruptures Sneezing is capable of causing middle and inner ear damage, including a ruptured eardrum. “If you tend to hold in the high pressure that gets built up in your respiratory system before sneezing then some air can go into your ears too. This pressurized air further goes into the tube in each of your ears that connects to the middle ear and eardrum that is known as the Eustachian tube. Thus, the pressure can lead to the rupture of your eardrum and there will be hearing loss,” Dr Pritam Moon, consultant physician, Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai, tells HealthShots.  2. Infection Another reason why you should never avoid sneezing, especially if you are suffering a cold, is to release the yellow nasal discharge from the body. Dr Moon says, “Sneezing allows you to clear the nose of anything that shouldn’t be present there, including the bacteria. Holding a sneeze leads to the redirection of air back into your ears from your nasal passages that carry bacteria or infected mucus to your middle ear inviting an infection. You may be required to take antibiotics to manage that middle ear infection.” 3. Broken ribs “When you hold a sneeze, the high-pressure air is forced into the lungs with a lot of force, and this can lead to the breaking of your ribs,” says Dr Moon.  Why do we sneeze? Sneezing is a mechanism you use to clear your nose. When foreign particles like pollen, dust, or smoke enter your nose, they may interact with your nasal passage. If this happens, an electric signal gets sent to your brain to inform it that it’s time for a sneeze. The act of sneezing forces water, mucus, and air from your nose quickly.  Although risks of holding in a sneeze are low, still there are chances that it could lead to consequences. So never ever hold on to your sneeze!  Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai Source: https://ke.opera.news/ke/en/health/e016dbf7908c1072e164b526687e77fd

The passing away of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s son has brought the focus back on cerebral palsy, a condition the 26-year-oldsuffered from. The passing away of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s son has brought the focus back on cerebral palsy, a condition the 26-year-oldsuffered from. The prevalence of cerebral palsy, which is characterized by motor impairment and incoordination, in Western countries is estimated to be 2.4 per 1,000 children. According to a study published in the Journal of Pediatric Neurosciences, the prevalence is expected to be higher in India owing to poor infrastructure of health care services. “One of the main risk factors for cerebral palsy is birth asphyxia . If we can ensure institutional or supervised delivery, this risk and, therefore, the chances of cerebral palsy will reduce,”Dr Shefali Gulati, said. In 2019, the doctors from the department of paediatrics at Lady Hardinge Medical College and Kalawati Saran Children’s hospital, conducted a study to find out the risk factors associated with the disease. It involved a detailed history taking and clinical examination of 160 children in the age group of 2-15 years who suffered from cerebral palsy. It was found that the most common etiology or risk factor was birth asphyxia (41.9%). Birth asphyxia happens when a baby’s brain and other organs do not get enough oxygen during or right after birth. “Most common risk factor of cerebral palsy is birth asphyxia; thus, by improving healthcare facilities, its incidence can be reduced,” the researchers pointed out. Other risk factors associated with cerebral palsy are neonatal sepsis or meningitis, prematurity, twins, pathological jaundice, and kernicterus (a type of brain damage that can result from high levels of bilirubin in a baby’s blood), the study found. Dr Prashant Makhija, consultant neurologist at Mumbai’s Wockhardt Hospitals, said cerebral palsy as the name indicates manifests as limb weakness (palsy) due to brain damage (cerebral). Symptoms, he said, vary depending on the severity of brain damage. “Spastic cerebral palsy is the major type which results in weakness of the limbs along with stiffness of the limb muscles (spasticity), there may also be speech and swallowing difficulties. Some may face issues with limb coordination (ataxia) and some may also have abnormal limb movements. In addition to the weakness, stiffness, coordination and speech/swallowing issues faced by the child, additional symptoms include (not seen at all)—intellectual disability, vision and hearing problems,” Dr Makhija said. He added that treatment is largely supportive in the form of speech/swallow therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy. “Depending on the severity, some interventions can be done to control the stiffness (spasticity) of the limbs— Botulinum toxin injection and anti-spasticity medications,” Dr Makhija said. Early recognition of the problem and early initiation of therapy can significantly help in overcoming the disability associated with the disease, the neurologist said. Source: https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/why-tackling-risk-factors-is-key-to-surviving-cerebral-palsy/89934656

Everyone blames sugar for something these days. Your doctor mentions it at every visit. The label on your snack box shouts it in bold. Even at family dinners, someone always brings up who’s “cutting back” this year. Eventually, people look for a replacement, and stevia is nearly always the first name that comes up. You’ve seen the packet. Small, green, sitting right next to the sugar sachets at any cafe counter, with fine print promising zero calories. It sounds too easy, honestly, like there has to be a catch somewhere. So we asked diabetes specialists what stevia actually does once it’s past the marketing and inside the body. What Exactly Is Stevia? Nobody manufactures stevia from scratch in a lab. Like other shrubs, it also grows in the ground. The stevia plant, Stevia rebaudiana, is native to South America and now grows in several Indian states where conditions suit it.  Chewing a raw leaf brings on sweetness almost right away, though calling it chai-worthy would be a stretch. Underneath it sits a grassy, faintly herbal note that takes most people a few tries to actually enjoy. Credit for the sweetness goes to compounds buried in the leaf, called steviol glycosides, and weight for weight they’re absurdly strong, somewhere around 250 to 300 times sweeter than ordinary sugar.  A single pinch of stevia powder does what a full spoon of sugar does. No one notices the difference in the cup. That potency is also exactly why the packet always looks half empty sitting next to a regular sugar packet on the shelf. There’s a catch buyers often miss. Manufacturers pull the glycosides out of the leaf, then many add sugar alcohols, dextrose, or other fillers to bulk the powder and make it easier to scoop.  Read the label. Not the front, the actual ingredient list on the back. Anything besides stevia leaf extract on that list means what you bought isn’t quite as pure as the packaging suggests. Stevia vs Sugar: Which One Actually Wins? Sugar is a simple and pure carbohydrate that your body hardly gets a chance to register before your small intestine starts converting it into glucose. This is the reason you feel heavy after having sweets.  A real stevia extract, not some watered-down mix, completely avoids that chain reaction. Neither calories nor carbohydrates: your body is not left with anything to process. Factor Sugar Stevia Calories per teaspoon equivalent About 16 0 Effect on blood glucose Raises it directly Minimal to none Sweetness compared to sugar 1x (baseline) 250 to 300x Source Sugarcane or beet Stevia rebaudiana leaves Aftertaste None Mildly bitter or licorice-like for some people This is exactly why stevia sugar swaps get recommended so often. Two reasons, really: fewer calories, and almost no glucose spike. Cut the empty calories, keep the sweetness, and both your blood sugar and your waistline come out ahead. That’s not the same as a cure, though. Stevia neither treats diabetes nor reverses it, but it removes the sugar-spike trigger from the equation. What Do the Experts Say About Stevia and Diabetes? We asked physicians and dietitians who deal with diabetes patients every single day. Their answers didn’t all agree. Dr. Dilip Gude, consultant physician and diabetologist at Wockhardt Hospitals, leans cautious. Research generally calls stevia reasonably safe, he says, but that’s different from recommending it as a daily habit. His real concern isn’t chemistry.  It tastes good. Get accustomed to any sweet taste, stevia not excluded, and the craving for something even sweeter tends to show up the moment it’s unavailable. A more favorable read comes from Dr. Pritam Moon, Consultant Physician and Diabetologist at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road, mainly for those people who are managing diabetes and trying to lose extra weight.  Together, in his view, that makes stevia a genuinely useful option for anyone who wants something sweet without paying for it later. One warning, though. Go beyond what a dish actually needs, and stevia can drop blood pressure lower than intended. Stick to what an expert recommends. Nothing extra. Then there’s Dr. Kajal Pandya Yeptho, a chief dietitian at Wockhardt Hospitals, who asks a completely different question before stevia even comes up. Why swap it in, and for what dish specifically? Sugar and stevia both do the same basic job of making food taste sweet, sure. That much is obvious.  What’s less obvious is that the dish carrying the sweetness usually has its own calorie count regardless of which one is used, so swapping stevia into a dessert loaded with refined flour and cream doesn’t actually change much. Cut to the essentials, her argument is that stevia only pays off when it genuinely replaces sugar, not when it becomes a license to eat more of everything else surrounding it. India has real stakes here. The ICMR-INDIAB study, reported through India’s Ministry of Health, puts the number of Indians currently living with diabetes at roughly 10.1 crore. Another 13.6 crore already sit in the prediabetes range. A separate angle comes from research itself.  A 2024 meta-analysis that collected data from 26 different studies with more than 1400 participants found that regular use of stevia results in a good reduction in fasting blood glucose. This effect was seen in the first four months of use.  Still, the authors of this review rated this evidence as less certain and said more trials are needed before declaring it settled. What Are the Negative Aspects of Stevia? Being plant-based doesn’t automatically make something risk-free. Stevia has a few catches worth knowing. It can lower blood pressure more than you’d want. Large amounts, well beyond what a dish actually needs, have been tied to blood pressure drops in some users. That matters if you’re already on medication for hypertension. Your gut might react. On some occasions, bloating, nausea, or stomach upset might show up, although it’s the filler in the mixed product usually causing it and not the stevia itself.  Your taste buds can shift the wrong way. This is exactly

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation or TAVI is a new non-surgical procedure in which the aortic valve can be replaced without major open-heart surgery. Aortic valve is one of the four valves in the heart. This valve located on the left side of the heart facilitates the forward flow of oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the aorta and thereafter to other parts of the body. Degenerative Aortic stenosis is a disease of the elderly where the surgical risks would be prohibitively high. In this procedure, the valve is accessed through an artery in the leg. It’s a boon for the octa-nonagenarians who till now had to choose either to go in for a high-risk open-heart valve replacement surgery or a curtailed life. While this therapy is established as the standard of care in the west, there are few challenges for this therapy in India. For the TAVI procedure, there is knowledge, attitude, and practice gap because of which the procedure has failed to gain acceptance. TAVI is being used in the west for more than a decade and has undergone the rigors of carefully conducted medical trials and approval by the stringent USFDA norms. Large-scale trials have shown that TAVI is safer and more efficacious in a high-risk subset of patients. Recently, USFDA has given approval even for low-risk subsets after the result of a few landmark trials. Unfortunately, the knowledge of TAVI as an established form of treatment- even among medical colleagues is dismal. Most think of it as some sort of experimental procedure, which is not true. The procedure required specialized training, practice, and a qualified team of interventional cardiologists, anesthetists, and nurses. Even in a megapolis like Mumbai, a handful of interventional cardiologists are certified to do this procedure independently. The pandemic also played a role as many international proctors (Trainers) couldn’t travel to Mumbai. Likewise, Indian cardiologists couldn’t go abroad or have workshops in the country due to restrictions. But things are looking up now as more and more independent TAVI operators are growing in Mumbai and suburbs Another hindrance due to which the procedure has not found wider application is the cost. The average cost of the entire procedure ranges from 19 to 28 lakhs depending upon the valve used, the procedural fees levied by the surgeon, and the hospital setting. This makes TAVI out of reach of most Indians. Many insurance companies don’t provide cashless facilities or reimbursement for the entire cost of the procedure. The challenges are multiple but the gaps in further wider acceptance should be addressed to make it available to those who need it the most. Dr. Ankur Phaterpekar,Consultant Interventional Cardiologist ,Wockhardt Hospital Source: https://www.expresshealthcare.in/news/challenges-in-tavi-surgeries-in-india/433518/

You must have encountered a simple but troublesome problem with your child. The kid keeps on coughing in small bouts, which are generally not severe but a cause of concern for the parents. The parent seeks medical advice multiple times. Fill the child with multiple cough syrups, expectorants, or antibiotics, but with little relief. What is a Habit Cough? It is a cough that occurs in the absence of any underlying disease. Most frequently it affects school-age children, usually those in the age group of 4-11yr. Causes of Habit Cough It is usually loud, harsh, honking, or barking. It may follow a viral illness, but go on for weeks, months, or even, in extreme cases, years. It can occur many times in a minute and often becomes more severe when other people, such as parents, teachers, and health care providers, are around. Even though the habit of cough can sound harsh, the child is quite comfortable between coughing bouts unless he has a conversion disorder. Classically, a habit of a cough only occurs when the child is awake. Habit cough is not associated with breathing difficulty or wheezing (musical sounds while breathing). A specific character about cough is that the parent of the child is either over concerned or they scold the child a lot. The child is generally a pampered one. Treatment Plan and Role of Parents By Dr. Virender Verma Consultant Neonatologist Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road

Your dripping nose making it difficult for you to concentrate on your daily activities? Does your stuffy nose refuse to get better? Then, it is the right time to consult the doctor as this can be owing to a sinus problem which is also called sinusitis. Yes, that’s right! It will be the need of the hour to tackle this bothersome symptom of the sinus and lead a healthy life. Untreated sinus is painful and disrupts the daily routine. Read on to know more about this and just take care of yourself. Did you skip your important presentation owing to a cold and stuffy nose? Are you unable to carry on with your daily activities due to a dripping nose? Embarrassed during a meeting due to the dripping nose? Is the color of the sputum changing? Then, it is alarming and needs a thorough evaluation. This is commonly seen during sinus or sinusitis problems. Here, we brief you about the sinus infection, causes, symptoms, treatment, and prevention. What Is The Sinus? Did you know? A sinus infection occurs when the fluid builds up in the air-filled pockets in the face (sinuses) and encourages the growth of germs. Viruses lead to most sinus infections, but bacteria can also cause some sinus infections. There are a majority of people who encounter this problem. Risk Factors Certain factors such as having a previous cold, suffering from seasonal allergies, smoking, and secondhand smoke, structural nose problems like nasal polyps, and a weak immune system can make you fall prey to sinus problems. Structural nose problems like deviated nasal septum ( bone), nasal polyps, and weak immune system. Symptoms Those having sinus problems will showcase symptoms such as runny nose, stuffy nose, facial pain or pressure, headaches, sore throat, cough, and even bad breath. It will be imperative for you to seek immediate medical attention once you notice the symptoms. So, if these symptoms tend to last for -4 days without any improvement then do not delay seeking treatment as your health can deteriorate further. Treatment The doctor will decide the line of treatment for you. You will have to take antibiotics as per the doctor’s advice. You can opt for a nasal spray, put a warm compress over the nose and forehead, and take steam from time to time. Tips To Prevent Sinus Problems Clean your hands before touching the face, take flu and pneumococcal vaccine, avoid coming in contact with those who have colds and other infections or allergies, avoid smoking and secondhand smoke, opt for a humidifier at home to breathe freely. Source: https://www.thehealthsite.com/diseases-conditions/sinusitis/dont-ignore-nose-dripping-dont-ignore-sinus-look-out-for-these-symptoms-850645/

As post-Diwali air pollution continues to make news and raise concerns, it is important to safeguard ourselves from the side-effects of toxic pollutants that can cause respiratory disorders, lung cancer, brain or kidney damage, and heart disease in long run. Higher levels of air pollution, in general, can lead to eye conditions like conjunctivitis, eye irritation, or dry eye. A dry eye is a condition where your eyes don’t produce enough tears to lubricate your eye. “Effect of air pollution or eyes manifestation of air pollution can range from minimal symptoms to chronic discomfort and eye irritation. Common symptoms include itching, irritation, chronic discomfort, dry eye syndrome,” says Dr. Sheetal Ballal. Symptoms are higher among contact lens wearers. Poor air quality can accelerate pre-existing dry eye disease, she says. Apart from the above-mentioned eye conditions, high levels of air pollution can also increase the risk of age-related macular degeneration as the pollutants may enter the bloodstream and damage the small blood vessels within the eye. Studies also suggest that pollution can increase our risk of developing an eye condition called glaucoma that can cause blindness. Can Pollution Lead to Permanent Loss of Vision? There have been instances when people have lost their eyes due to eye allergies, one of the conditions that occur due to air pollution. “Pollutants are very common causes for eye allergies and dry eyes. Disruption of the protective atmospheric UV layer increases the risk of retinal damage (ARMD) and visual loss. One of my young patients, an 18-year-old girl lost one eye permanently. She had developed eye allergies. She had shifted to Mumbai from her hometown. We had asked her to use steroid eye drops for 1 week and to follow up but she self-medicated and came after 6 months with glaucoma and permanent loss of vision in one eye,” says Dr. Sandeep Kataria, Consultant Ophthalmologist, Wockhardt Hospitals. Moving away from the polluted environment can improve eye health and benefit people with eye allergies. “I see patients’ eyes getting better when they go to their home town during summer vacations. That’s really powerful proof. I also saw a marked decrease in eye allergies during the covid lockdowns,” he adds. Protecting Eyes from Air Pollution Dr. Kataria and Dr. Ballal suggest ways to protect your precious eyes from the harmful effects of pollution Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/air-pollution-can-play-havoc-with-your-eyes-here-s-how-101636539644755.html