Viral Infection, Diabetes, Muscle Pain _Flu & Telemedicine

In last one week our doctors have either by home visit or tele consultation helped diabetics with viral infection.  We found some common misconceptions and risks which we want to highlight by this post.

1. In two instances both husband and wife were suffering from fever, body pain and dry cough. This was because of viral infection which was given by one partner to other. Viral infection is contagious and the most simple way it spreads is through handshake. Please wash your hands and disinfect the common objects which are handled like door handles, utensils.
2. Antibiotics do not help in viral infection and other way round may cause more harm. Many a times we have seen patients taking Azithral (azithromycin) without doctor prescription. Abuse of antibiotics can lead to obesity, diarrhoea and antibiotic resistance.
3. 
4. Diabetics who are taking Insulin or other oral hypoglycaemic agents need to be careful in taking the medication without adequate food intake. We have seen hypoglycaemic  episodes in such patients. Please keep a sugar monitor at home and ensure that you are taking adequate food. HYPOGLYCAEMIA IS MORE HARMFUL THAN HYPERGLYCAEMIA IN SHORT RUN. Hyperglycaemia for couple of days is not harmful. Please consult doctor.
5. Dehydration is also a major cause of weakness and complications. Elderly people with fever are more prone to dehydration. Ensure adequate hydration. Plain water and as per sugar levels ORS can be given to ensure good hydration.
6. Body ache, muscle pain can be there during viral infection. Long standing diabetics can have borderline kidney function. It is important to ensure that they do not take pain killers indiscriminately. Paracetamol is fine but other over the counter pain killers must be avoided. Again drinking plenty of water is important.  
   

CDC recommendation here- 

Get in touch with us to know more , you can call on +91 8892505557, reach@rightcare.in  , Prana Healthcare

What Is Healthy Diet? Start With A Breakfast

We are often left wondering what is healthy living and to be healthy what should we eat. We come across conflicting news each day and amidst all that we succumb to the lures of fast food.

Let us try to deconstruct what is healthy eating. And today we touch healthy "Breakfast" 

Before we start with what you can eat and what you cannot eat, two thumb rules to guide you.

1. Eating at the right time is very important and adds significantly to your health when you eat right. Let us repeat- EATING AT THE RIGHT TIME!!

2. Middle path- Everything under the sun is poison, the quantity and quality matters. So eating in moderation has always been found to be beneficial. 

What can we eat? 

Our traditional food habits have been designed with a balance of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. So eating right when you are healthy allows you to stay healthy. 

1. Eating Idli , Vada, Sambhar and Chatni! - In this you have the right mix of carbohydrates, proteins, fats and essential nutrients. So taking two idlis, one vada should serve as a good breakfast for most people. 

2. Omelette with bread toast and butter- This has protein, carbohydrate and fat.

3. Dosa with smabhar and chatni- This may fall short of protein and you may want to add a boiled egg or a dal vada with it.

4. Poha - This has carbohydrate and if peanuts are there a bit of protein but you can supplement this with an egg or glass of milk.

5. Bowl of fruits with and egg.

6. Upma- if it has vegetables and ghee added to it,  becomes a more wholesome food. Check different types of Upma here.

What we are saying with above examples is that most breakfast are tailored to be healthy. You eat them at the right time, that is within 2 hours of waking up before 9 am and lo behold, you have ensured an healthy start. 

What we will not recommend for eating at breakfast-

1. Biscuits- very bad choice. Processed food with mostly carbohydrates. 

2. Only bread- again only carbohydrates.

3. Only milk- a good source of protein but will not give you the carbohydrates and fats required to start your day.

4. Only Juice- It will mostly be carbohydrates for you and in juice form the absorption of fructose/glucose is faster creating a slump soon. Eating fruits is much better. But the bowl of fruits need to be accompanied by milk or eggs. 

Share with us your favourite breakfasts. Or the kind of breakfast you have. 

Want to know more, write to us, tweet, or post a comment.

#StayHealthy

World Day Cancer Day 2018

Cancer is a dreaded disease. Even doctors get confused, distressed and lost when they hear the diagnosis of cancer.

All cancers are not equal.

The risk factors for all cancers is not the same.

The tests required to diagnose cancer varies from site to site. However few things do remain common like biopsy and imaging (CT scan, MRI or PET CT). But again which scan to be used done when and how frequently? 

After diagnosis is done, comes the treatment part. What is the best way to treat? Where to get the treatment? Whether to approach a Medical Oncologist, Surgical Oncologist, Radiation Oncologist or Hemato-Oncologist? Who will guide me through this maze?  Will the cure rate be better if I go to a particular hospital?

And what about Ayurvedic treatment?

On this #WorldCancerDay, we understand that it is not easy to navigate the world of cancer.

This whole month we will take your questions about cancer.

You can reach us through Twitter, Facebook, mail us at pranaenablers@gmail.com

#StayHealthy

Ah, yes, Cancer is curable if treated early.

Cancer is preventable for most of them.

You can read more here 

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs297/en/

Happy Independence Day

We celebrate 71 st Independence Day. It is a proud moment that we have made progress in the last 70 years.

But we have miles to go before we accomplish the below things

1: We need Freedom from Mosquitoes- Dengue, Malaria and Japanese Encephalitis

2. We need Freedom From Pot Holes

3. We need Freedom From Garbage

4. We need Freedom From Diseases

5. We need Freedom to Think Freely! An environment to think constructively, independently for the health and prosperity of all.

6. Independence from air, noise and water pollution.


What can we do?

1. Keep our surroundings clean the way we keep our homes clean.

2. Be mindful of our carbon foot print. Walk, cycle, use public transport at every opportunity. Turn of lights, fan and air condition when not in use.

3. Raise voice whenever you see something wrong. It is time we stopped tolerating the bad roads and poor infrastructure.

4. Promote health by education and practising  healthy habits.

5. Whenever we forward information take enough precaution to verify the authenticity,  truthfulness of the information. And more importantly will it benefit the person to whom we are sending. In digital era it is very easy for us to get manipulated by false information and images. These are responsible for loss of independent thinking, hostility and mental diseases.


Wish you all health!

Joint Pains & Osteoarthritis-How To Help Oneself

Osteoarthritis has become a very common problem. Osteoarthritis is joint damage because of wear and tear. It normally sets in old age but symptoms can start as early as 40 or 45 years old.

The major distressing thing is that they have pain. This pain can range from being moderate to very severe.

Doing physiotherapy and regular self exercises is extremely beneficial. Others ways to help oneself are given below.

1. Reduce Weight, Reduce Pressure On Your Joints:Your weight can make a staggering difference to pain levels, and every kilogram really does count. Researchers have found that a 10% reduction in body weight could mean a 50% reduction in pain. The same study found that 38% of participants recorded little to no pain after losing weight. Some small diet and exercise adjustments today could drastically improve your quality of life tomorrow. Get in touch with us to consult a Dietician.
2. Having Omega 3 Fatty Acid Rich Diet: They prevent tissue damage and reduce inflammation.
3. Exercise: Regular activity is an essential part of life with osteoarthritis – but when pain is there doing anything becomes difficult.  So doing easy, comfortable  exercise is something to aim for, whether it’s a social exercise class or a regular walk. To keep bones strong one needs to do weight bearing exercises. Exercise in water is a great way to reduce pressure on joints and minimise injuries due to exercise. So get into swimming pool and get some movements there.  Drink water to stay hydrated, it helps keep your joints moving.
4. Sleep, sleep and sleep: Simple truth is if we sleep less we feel more pain in the morning. So use all tricks and trade to sleep better. 

We wish you health always.

If in case you need a Physiotherapist at home or Dietician Consultation @ home or Blood Investigations @ home, just call +91 8892505557.

Or visist pranahealthcare.co.in

Does Having Wholesome Indian Diet Keep Alzheimer's At Bay?

With an ever increasing aging population we will be seeing lot of people battling Parkinson's , Alzheimer's, Diabetes, Cancer.



Is there something which can be done to protect oneself from these deadly diseases?

Yes!

1. Good diet. But what is a good diet? Traditional Indian food ? 
2. Exercise
3. Stress free life

Let us focus on food.

A recent study has found that western diet increases the risk for Alzheimer's.

US Diet- Highest Risk

Mediterranean Diet- 50% Less Risk

Indian Diet- 50% less than Mediterraneans! 

We of course need more holistic research and data gathering from across the country.

You may read the news article here

The Bacteria In Your Stomach - Is It Responsible For Diabetes?

Gut micobiome or gut microbiota is the different kinds of bacteria which are present in our intestine.



Studies indicate that the bacteria in the intestine are unique to every individual and can be considered as a signature.

The kind of bacteria depends on type of birth, caesarean or vaginal, the antibiotics you take and type of food you have. It can change based on food intake and antibiotic abuse. Junk food is known to tilt it to bad bacteria.

It is also well known that H.Pylori bacterium causes Gastritis and also a type of cancer called Gastric MALT Lymphoma!

We will not cover the how, when and what of these bacteria here.

But it is now being well established that certain type of bacteria in the gut can increase insulin resistance.

Recent research has added more evidence to this but lot more research is required. An Indian study is required where we map the bacteria of normal, pre-diabetics and diabetic patients and compare it.

Till then, focus on what can be controlled!

Eat healthy- vegatables!
Exercise.

You can read more :

1. Forbes

2. Medscape

If you want to know how to prevent yourself from diabetes and how to stay healthy or for any health related help, you can write to us @ reach@rightcare.in

#Stayhealthy

Tie Up With Comprehensive Rehab

We are proud to announce about our partnership with Comprehensive Rehab, which will help in providing rehabilitation, orthotics, prosthetics and phsyiotherapy  both at home and as out patient service at Rajajinagar.













This partnership will help the following people:

1. Stroke/paralysis patients
2. Amputation patients
3. Spastic patients
4. Motor Neuron Disease
5. Multiple Sclerosis
6. Diabetes

Common conditions  commonly treated by Home Health Rehab include (but not limited to):

• Total Joint Replacements
• CVA
• Chronic Pain
• Fractures
• Neurologic conditions
• Fall Prevention
• Home Safety Evaluations

What is Prosthesis?

The branch concerning making and fitting of artificial body parts.

• Above the knee amputations
• Below the knee amputations
• Hip disarticulation
• Partial foot prosthesis
• Ankle disarticulation
• Above elbow amputation
• Below elbow amputation
• Wrist disarticulation
• Silicone finger

To know more about orthotics, prosthesis call us at 8892505557 or write to us at reach@rightcare.in

Tai Chi As Good As Physiotherapy For Osteoarthritis Of Knee?

Osteoarthritis of knee is becoming a common problem for the elderly. This is because of "wear & tear" and aging of the knee. Family history of osteoarthritis is a risk factory including being overweight.
Osteoarthritis is the most common knee problem and knee replacement is a solution which is effective but a difficult decision to make.

Strengthening the knee muscles by physiotherapy is as effective as surgery in some people.

Physical therapy or physiotherapy has been proven to be very effective and a new study comparing physical therapy to Tai Chi has shown that Tai Chi is also effective in reducing pain.

Watch the video for Tai Chi for knee strengthening 

Physiotherapy For Knee Strengthening 

Please consult an expert or your doctor or call us to know the best way to get help.

If you have any specific questions, you can write to us or call.

We want you to stay healthy.

#Stayhealthy

Those who wish to read more :

1. Medscape article 

2. Harvard Health

Will Wearables Help Parkinson's Patients

This is the age of apps and wearables. Along with that we have Virtual Reality and Augmented reality coming to entertain and educate us. Pokemon Go is an example of how augmented reality is becoming mainstream.

Now can all these technologies be used to help people? People who are elderly, lonely, people who have Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's and other numerable old age or metabolic disorders.

One such attempt is being made by Engineering students at University of Pennsylvania. They are developing a wearable which will help Physical Therapy for Parkinson's patients.

In Parkinson's one can have tremors, bradykinesia (slow movements of limbs/ freezing while walking, slow walking), falls because of the same. It has been shown that Physiotherapy also called as Physical therapy and Dance therapy can help people with Parkinson's.

The wearable is still in its early stages and one will need to wait and watch regarding how it will help. But these are good developments.

You can read more about the same here

Previously there was a Verve project to help Parkinson and Alzheimer disease patients. It has ended but we think individual startups can emerge from that and make a difference.

There is Kinesia360 which monitors Parkinson's patients on a continuous basis and sends the data to the clinician.

Those interested in reading more click here 

If anyone of your relative or friend is battling Parkinson, let us know. We will be happy to understand how we can help with wearables, apps and human beings!

The Biggest Curable Disease?

Somethings gather more attention and resources and they need not necessarily be the most impactful.

We know the war against AIDS, Cancer, Diabetes and united we are making progress in these areas.



World is changing and with changing technology we have newer diseases to battle. One of them which is not obvious but important to tackle is "Myopia".

Myopia or nearsightedness is a condition where one cannot see distant things clearly. Example school children not able to read boards clearly.

Incredibly, estimates are that by 2050 more than 5 billion people will have myopia, nearly 50% of the projected global population. More than half of those people won’t get the treatment they need. And the consequence is far more than just inconvenience: educational outcomes, road safety and long-term health are all tied up in the problem of uncorrected vision. Myopia is also associated with serious eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, and myopic macular degeneration, which can all cause irreversible blindness.

Use of electronic gadgets is believed to increase myopia.

And "Myopia" is easily corrected with glasses! Please visit Optometrist or Ophthalmologist.

Read the full article here

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/06/the-biggest-curable-disease-that-no-one-talks-about

#StayHealthy