World Hypertension Day-What You Need To Know

Hypertension is the other name for high blood pressure.

Why is high blood pressure harmful?

One can have high blood pressure for many years without having any symptoms. Having family history of high blood pressure increases one's risk for same. Since there are no symptoms in the early stage it is advisable to get your blood pressure checked once a year.

What is normal blood pressure- It is a range. Once can have it between 110/70 mm of Hg to 140/80 mm of Hg and the higher range is considered acceptable for elderly. In general 120/80 mm of Hg is considered normal blood pressure.

When are you diagnosed having high blood pressure?

Single reading is never diagnostic. 3-5 readings are taken over a week's time to come to conclusion about high blood pressure.

What is the damage when high blood pressure is not controlled?

1. Stroke- that is blood vessels in the brain can get ruptured leading to paralysis. This is a serious complication limiting persons quality of life and earning capacity.

2. Kidney damage

3. Heart enlargement and heart failure.

Suffice to say that having blood pressure under control is one of the best ways to avoid chronic diseases. 

Prevention is better than cure! You can read more about blood pressure here

http://pranahealthcareenablers.blogspot.in/2016/05/know-about-blood-pressure.html

Take care of yourself and your loved ones. As a special offer we will come to your home and check your blood pressure for just 199 Rs.

Call us or write to us to book an appointment. Limited period offer. Available only in Bangalore.

Get Blood Pressure checked.

Yoga Benefits Diabetes Patients

People with diabetes are increasing. We as a society need to fight against this rising epidemic.

With  help of diet, exercise, medication, regular check up one can defeat diabetes and lead a normal life. Along with above, Yoga is also a potent way to tackle diabetes.

Research and studies done indicate that people who do Yoga have better control over their diabetes. Their Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG), Glycosylated Hemoglobin, Cholesterol level, Lipid level all improved when Yoga is done.

You can read more here.

Scientific Reference

Which Yoga to do? Best is to consult. But we found few and we share same below.

Image Courtesy: Flickr asganwei61

Steam Inhalation & Nasal Irrigation For Sinusitis

Sinusitis can be a chronic and recurring problem. This can be troublesome and decrease the quality of life.



Steam inhalation is helpful in acute sinusitis and chronic sinusitis by reducing the headache.


Nasal irrigation reduces symtoms in chronic or recurrent sinusitis.

Those who used nasal irrigation

1. Had their symptoms improved.
2. Used fewer over the counter medicines
3. Fewer headache
4. Fewer doctor consultation.

Reference:

1. http://www.cmaj.ca/content/early/2016/07/18/cmaj.160362

2. http://www.jwatch.org/fw111806/2016/07/18/advising-sinusitis-patients-use-nasal-irrigation-may-help

#Stayhealthy

We wish you health. Please consult doctor. 

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!

Does Change Of Weather Increase Risk Of Falling Sick?

Does sudden change in weather cause one to fall sick?

Does getting drenched in rain cause one to fall ill?

Does cold weather increase risk of cold & cough?

We constantly hear that change of weather is responsible for illness, but how true is it?

Cool weather can help in survival and replication of few viruses but that is not sufficient by itself to cause increase in illnesses.

By blaming the weather we are abdicating our responsibility. Most often the increase in illnesses is because of lack of precautions from our side.

1. Increase in episodes of cold and cough could be because of increased virus transmission among school kids who can bring it into the home. Handshakes are the most common way in which these viruses get transferred. So washing our hands is mandatory!
2. Certain increase in cold could be because of allergies and asthma. Your primary care physician should be able to diagnose this, if you are having repeated cold & cough symptoms.
3. Increase in fever like malaria, dengue and typhoid are all preventable. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water and areas where garbage is dumped. These are preventable!! 
4. Few people who sleep less hours and are chronically stressed can have their immunity lowered. This can also increase the risk of infections. Sleeping for 8 hours and exercising is shown to reduce the rate of infections.

Hope this article equips you to stay healthy!

We have Tele health packages and stay healthy packages. Get in touch with us to know more. 

Dengue & Chikungunya- They Are Back!

It is unfortunate that we have to suffer from preventable diseases. Prana doctors have been seeing lot of patients suffering from Chikungunya, Malaria, Dengue! all due to mosquitoes bites.
The Swaach Bharat Abhiyan has a long way to go....

Dengue is a virus infection that is transmitted through the bite of an Aedes mosquito. Common in the tropic and subtropics.

The symptoms include high fevers, severe headache with pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint aches, a rash and mild bleeding of the nose or gums. There is no specific treatment, because it is a viral illness antibiotics do not work. At the present there is no vaccine either, but with early recognition and good medical management such as pain relievers, rest and fluid replacement, most people can recover. Interestingly contrary to most illnesses younger children actually have a milder course of the disease than compared with older kids and adults. However, there is a more severe often fatal form called Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF). If unrecognized it can result in bleeding internally from low platelet counts, which are the clotting particles, found in the blood. This then causes abdominal pain and shortness of breath from bleeding into the lungs and abdominal cavity, leading to shock. These individuals need to be hospitalized in an ICU setting.

ChikungunyaThis viral disease is spread through the bite of the Albopictus mosquito, know as the Asian tiger mosquito. Commonly seen in countries of Asia, Africa and the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

The most common symptom is severe joint pain with fever. The disease is not often fatal but the pain is extremely severe can be disabling. Those at risk for a more severe form of the disease are the very old and very young as well as people with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, kidney disease and heart disease. Again there is no specific medication or vaccine, just pain relievers and fluids to prevent dehydration.

Prevention is keyDuring mosquito season there are prevention tips you can follow to protect yourself:

• Eliminate any standing water around your house outside where mosquitos can breed in pots, planters or anything that can hold a puddle of water.
• If possible use air-conditioning or use window screens or mosquito netting at night when you sleep.
• Mosquitos are weak fliers, so if are outside dining or grilling use a fan to keep them away.
• When the weather permits wear long sleeves and pants if you are spending a lot of time outdoors.
• In endemic regions community-wide insecticides or larvicide spraying can be done.
• Personal insect repellents containing DEET can be used to treat your clothes and skin but read the label and instruction very carefully. A natural insect repellent such as oil of lemon eucalyptus can be helpful too.

Lastly, early recognition is important. Therefore if you have spent a significant time outdoors and noticed you gotten bitten and you develop a fever or just start to feel ill, talk with your doctor right away.

"Prevention Is Better Than Cure"

To know more subscribe to us or write to us at care@pranaenablers.com

What To Do When Your Elderly Parents Refuse Elder Care?

We have come across many instances when either parent or both initially refuse to take outside help from a trained caregiver.

This can happen because of many reasons:

1. How to trust that person?

2. Where will that person stay? Where will they sleep? What will they eat?

3. We are still fit to carry on our routine activities!

4. Which religion or caste they belong to!

5. Language spoken and understood.

The best proof is always to speak to similar situation people who have taken help. Their words and experience can be most reassuring. Get in touch with us to speak to the right people. We will visit your place, understand, reassure, make them speak to our existing or past customers.

Read more

5 Tips for Overcoming an Elderly Parent’s Objections to Home Care

Dr Albert Nast-An Inspirational Story

Dr Albert Nast story is one of inspiration. You can read more about it here but what is missed by most is that this would not have been possible without a great support system.

Health care requires caring doctors but it also requires Nurses, Caregivers, Wives and larger community to be supportive.

Dr Albert Nast became a great doctor even after he became blind because he was supported by his wife and nurses.

We have your well being at heart and we trust you stay healthy always.

Body Language-What You Can Do To Stay Healthy

This is an article published in SmartLife by The Week group. You can also read the article here

Do You Need An Helping Hand In Taking Care of Your Near One?

Elderly people have diverse requirements. Also the challenges faced by them are multitude. With decreasing muscle mass, loss of balance and other health conditions, it can become difficult for them to manage their daily needs.

It is tough for the near and dear ones to provide constant care as expected by the elderly person on account of various reasons. Under such circumstances having an attender to take care of elderly makes a big difference.

Conditions where an attender can make life easy are:

1. People who are bed ridden

2. People with Parkinson's disease

3. People with Dementia and Alzheimer's.

4. People with Stroke/Paralysis

5. Cancer patients

6. Patients with tracheostomy

7. Patients with colostomy

Require An Attender or Elderly Care Provider? Get In Touch With Us

To know the benefits and how to get an attender to suit your requirement get in touch with us. You can call 09886455344

Autism Awareness Day. What is Autism?

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong developmental and neurological disorder that is estimated to affect nearly 20 lakh individuals in India (T C Daley and Sigman, 2002). This number may be more. 

The video gives description about Autism.

Below are the centres in Bangalore which are making a difference to Autistic people.

1. Sunshine Trust 

2. Asha Integrated School

3. Apoorva Centre

4. Bubbles Autism

Prana Healthcare provides the general physician support as and when you need. Prana is you trusted "family doctor".

Prana Healthcare is a new age, compassionate, caring, primary healthcare provider. We send general physicians for home visits and run primary care clinics in Bangalore.