Tag: top hospitals in bangalore

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Guardians of Your Lifeline: A Comprehensive Guide on How to Take Care of Your Heart

Your heart is your lifeline, tirelessly pumping blood throughout your body, ensuring the supply of oxygen and nutrients to every cell. However, the demands of modern life often lead us to neglect this vital organ. Taking care of your heart is essential for a longer, healthier life. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the various aspects of heart health and provide you with practical tips to keep your heart in tip-top shape.

Regular Exercise For Healthy Heart

Regular exercise is a cornerstone of maintaining a healthy heart. Engaging in physical activity on a consistent basis can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease and improve overall cardiovascular health. Here’s a guide to the types of exercise that are particularly beneficial for your heart:

Aerobic Exercise (Cardiovascular Exercise)

Aerobic exercise, also known as cardiovascular exercise, is one of the most effective ways to strengthen your heart and improve its overall function. This type of exercise gets your heart rate up and increases your breathing. It includes activities like:

  • Brisk Walking: A simple and accessible form of cardiovascular exercise that can be done almost anywhere.
  • Running: Provides an intense cardiovascular workout that can improve endurance and heart health.
  • Cycling: A low-impact exercise that is gentle on the joints and can be done indoors or outdoors.
  • Swimming: A full-body workout that is easy on the joints and is excellent for cardiovascular fitness.
  • Aerobic Classes: Dance, step, or group exercise classes that combine movement and music.

Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week, or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise, or a combination of both.

Strength Training

Strength training is vital for heart health, as it helps to build muscle mass, increase metabolism, and control weight. Lean muscle mass can improve overall cardiovascular fitness and reduce the risk of heart disease. Include exercises such as:

  • Weightlifting: Using free weights or resistance machines to work various muscle groups.
  • Bodyweight Exercises: Exercises like push-ups, squats, and planks can be effective for strength training.

Incorporate strength training into your routine at least two days a week.

Flexibility And Balance Exercises

Maintaining flexibility and balance is essential, especially as we age. These types of exercises can reduce the risk of falls and injuries, indirectly benefiting heart health. Include exercises like yoga or tai chi to improve balance, posture, and overall flexibility.

Consistency Matters

The key to reaping the heart-healthy benefits of exercise is consistency. It’s essential to make exercise a regular part of your lifestyle rather than a sporadic activity. Set achievable goals and create a routine that you can stick to over the long term.

Consult Your Doctor

Before starting a new exercise regimen, especially if you have underlying health concerns, it’s advisable to consult with your healthcare provider. They can provide guidance on the most suitable exercise program based on your individual health and fitness level.

Diet To Maintain A Healthy Heart

Maintaining a heart-healthy diet is a powerful step in safeguarding your cardiovascular health. A balanced diet can reduce the risk of heart disease, lower blood pressure, and improve cholesterol levels. In this article, we’ll guide you through the dietary choices and habits that can keep your heart strong and ticking for years to come.

Choose Nutrient-Rich Foods: Opt for nutrient-dense foods to provide essential vitamins and minerals without excess calories. Load up on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. These foods supply the heart with the necessary nutrients for optimal function.

Fruits and Vegetables: Fruits and vegetables are brimming with antioxidants, fibre, and essential nutrients that benefit the heart. Aim for a colourful variety to ensure you receive a wide range of healthful compounds. Incorporate them into your meals, snacks, and smoothies.

Whole Grains: Whole grains like oats, brown rice, whole wheat, and quinoa are rich in fibre, which can help lower cholesterol and improve heart health. Make these grains the foundation of your carbohydrate choices to provide sustained energy and reduce heart disease risk.

Lean Proteins: Choose lean sources of protein such as fish, skinless poultry, legumes, and tofu. These options are lower in saturated fats and can replace red meat and processed meats in your diet, which are linked to heart disease when consumed excessively.

Healthy Fats: Incorporate sources of unsaturated fats into your diet, including olive oil, avocados, nuts, and seeds. These fats can help reduce bad cholesterol levels and inflammation, contributing to a healthier heart. Minimise saturated and trans fats found in fried and processed foods.

Reduce Salt: High sodium intake can elevate blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart disease. Flavour your meals with herbs and spices instead of salt. Read food labels to identify hidden sources of sodium in processed foods, and limit your salt intake.

Limit Added Sugars: Excessive sugar consumption can lead to weight gain and increase the risk of heart disease. Minimise sugary beverages, sweets, and processed foods laden with added sugars. Opt for natural sources of sweetness like fruits.

Portion Control: Controlling portion sizes can help you manage calorie intake and maintain a healthy weight. Be mindful of portion sizes to prevent overeating, which can strain the heart and lead to obesity.

Hydration: Adequate water intake is essential for heart health. Dehydration can strain the heart and increase the risk of blood clots. Drink enough water throughout the day, and reduce sugary or caffeinated beverages that can dehydrate you.

Your heart is your most precious asset, and taking care of it is a lifelong commitment. Thus, it deserves the best care you can give it, so start today and enjoy the benefits of a strong and happy heart.

When To Visit A Cardiologist?

It’s advisable to visit a cardiologist if you experience any unusual or persistent symptoms related to your heart or cardiovascular system. Such symptoms may include chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, irregular heartbeats, swelling in the legs or ankles, unexplained fatigue, or a family history of heart disease. Additionally, if you have risk factors for heart disease such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or a history of smoking, it’s important to establish a relationship with a cardiologist for routine screenings and preventive care. Regular check-ups become more crucial as you age.

Furthermore, if your primary care physician recommends a cardiology consultation due to abnormal test results or other concerns, it’s essential to follow through with that recommendation. Cardiologists are specialists in diagnosing and treating heart-related conditions, and they can provide expert guidance on maintaining heart health and managing any existing cardiac issues. Remember that early detection and intervention can significantly improve outcomes in heart disease, making timely visits to a cardiologist a valuable step in safeguarding your cardiovascular well-being.

Conclusion

Your heart is your most precious asset, and taking care of it is a lifelong commitment. By following these guidelines, you can reduce the risk of heart disease and pave the way for a longer, healthier life. Remember that small, consistent changes in your lifestyle can lead to significant improvements in your heart’s well-being. Your heart deserves the best care you can give it, so start today and enjoy the benefits of a strong and happy heart. Visit us at RRMCH to learn more such healthy tips.

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Monsoon and The Rise of Illness

The monsoons provide much-needed reprieve from the oppressive summer heat. Furthermore, they are a boon to agriculture since they raise the water levels in reservoirs. Despite the many benefits of the monsoon, it also brings a variety of illnesses. It is home to a slew of infections and health problems, ranging from an increase in cough, cold, and flu due to extreme temperature swings to viral fever and mosquito-borne diseases, among other things. Doctors at RajaRajeshwari Medical College and Hospital have compiled a list of the most frequent monsoon-related disorders and what you can do to avoid or lessen your chances of being ill this season.

Monsoon-Related Diseases And Prevention Tips

Many seasonal illnesses go undetected until they have a major impact on a person’s health. However, by exercising early detection and some easy preventive and hygiene practices, you may stay safe during India’s severe disease season. This is a list of monsoon diseases to be careful of during this muddy, rainy season:

Mosquito-borne diseases

MalariaDengueChikungunya
Malaria, which is caused by a single-celled parasite called Plasmodium, is one of India’s primary health issues during the monsoon season. It is the breeding season for mosquitos (Anopheles minimus), which serve as hosts for this malaria-causing virus. This mosquito breeds in water channels and streams and causes a severe fever (up to 105 degrees Celsius) for several days.    Dengue-causing Mosquitoes of the genus Aedes aegypti breed in stagnant water (such as buckets, drums, flower pots, wells, and tree holes). These organisms have adapted to changing landscapes and growing urbanisation, and are now found in urban dwellings as well. Dengue fever takes four to seven days to develop after being bitten, and the initial symptoms are fever and exhaustion.    Chikungunya is a non-fatal viral disease produced by the Aedes albopictus mosquito. These mosquitoes breed in stagnant water and can attack you both at nightfall and during the day. Chikungunya, which means “bending up,” is named after its unique arthritic symptoms (pain in the joints and bones, stiffness).    

Prevention Tips

  • Use insect repellent creams, lotions
  • Keep polluted water from accumulating.
  • Use mosquito nets that have been treated with pesticide.

Water-borne Diseases

Gastro-intestinal infectionsCholeraTyphoidJaundice
The ingestion of stale, uncovered, or polluted food and drink causes gastrointestinal diseases such as vomiting, diarrhoea, and gastroenteritis. To avoid stomach infections, it is best to boil water before drinking it and keep all meals covered before eating them.    Cholera, which is also caused by inadequate sanitation and eating infected food, is accompanied by diarrhoea or loose movements.    Typhoid is a water-borne disease caused by the S. Typhi bacteria that spreads due to inadequate sanitation. The two most common causes of typhoid infection are consuming spoiled or unprotected food and drinking contaminated water. Fever, headache, joint pain, and a sore throat are among the symptoms.    Jaundice, a water-borne disease, is spread through contamination of food and water, as well as poor sanitation. It causes liver malfunction, as well as symptoms such as weakness and exhaustion, yellow urine, eye yellowing, and diarrhoea.    

Prevention

  • Keep up with your personal hygiene.
  • After coughing or sneezing, before and after using the toilet, and before and after handling food, wash your hands at regular intervals.
  • Avoid eating from street vendors.
  • Consume only pure, filtered, and boiling water.

Air-borne Diseases

Cold and fluInfluenza
The most frequent viral infection, the common viral flu, is caused by shifts in temperature during the time of the monsoon. A weakened immune system makes us more susceptible to mild infections, which are accompanied by a runny nose, sore throat, watery eyes, fever, and chills.  Influenza, also known as the seasonal “flu,” is easily transmitted from person to person and is primarily conveyed through the air.        

Prevention

  • Wash your hands thoroughly with disinfectant soap, or use alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
  • Avoid eating in public places.
  • When sneezing or coughing, cover your mouth.

Conclusion

Monsoon disorders can be brought on by a lack of sunlight and humid weather. Monsoon infections are conveyed through the air, water, or mosquito bites making it a note that we must take preventative measures. Monsoon disease prevention advice is straightforward and simple to use! Prevention is always preferable to cure. So, remain safe and have fun throughout the monsoon season. Pregnant women, small children, and babies are particularly prone to infectious infections and must be especially cautious. If you or a family member notices any symptoms of monsoon disease, contact your doctor immediately .

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The Dark Cloud Of Diabetes Over India

I am sure you have heard India is becoming the diabetes capital of the world. We have all seen this prevailing news over some point of time. But why and how are we achieving that status? The number of diabetic cases in India is expected to reach 69.9 million by 2025, according to a collaborative survey done by the ICMR and NCDIR. Now for the most intriguing portion of the survey: did you realise that the vast majority of them are still undiagnosed? Let us thoroughly investigate the core cause of our country’s impending disaster.

Rise of diabetes in India

India is the world’s diabetes capital, and diabetes, also known as sugar, is referred to as ‘the sugar sickness’ in most households. Diabetes is predominantly a lifestyle disease that has expanded dramatically across all age categories in India, with prevalence exceeding 10% among the younger population.

The situation in cities is worse than in rural areas, where the disease prevalence is nearly twice across all socioeconomic categories. The present growth in diabetes, particularly among the younger population, is a major source of concern for public health.

The recent exponential rise of diabetes in India can be traced primarily to lifestyle changes. Rapid changes in food choices, physical inactivity, and increased body weight, particularly belly fat buildup, are some of the key causes of increased prevalence.

Breakdown The Type of Sugar Disease

The majority of diabetes types lack a known cause. In every circumstance, sugar builds up in the bloodstream. This results from the pancreas’s limited ability to produce insulin. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes can result from a combination of inherited and environmental factors. What exactly these factors are remains unknown.

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes (also known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes) is defined by insufficient insulin production which requires daily an injection to regulate insulin development. In a survey of 2017 it was reported that approximately 9 million individuals suffer from type 1 diabetes with the majority of them living in developed countries. 

Type 2 diabetes

Unlike Type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes influences how a patient’s body uses glucose generated for energy. It prevents the body from adequately utilising insulin, which can result in excessive blood sugar levels if not managed.

Type 2 diabetes can cause major harm to the body, particularly the nerves and blood vessels, over time. Being overweight, not getting enough exercise, and heredity are all risk factors for having type 2 diabetes.

Early detection is critical for avoiding the severe complications of type 2 diabetes. Regular check-ups and blood tests with a healthcare provider are the best method to diagnose diabetes early.

Type 2 diabetes symptoms can be minor. It may take several years for them to be discovered.  The symptoms are often less severe than those of type 1 diabetes. As a result, the disease may be discovered years later, when complications have developed.

Gestational diabetes

Hyperglycemia during pregnancy occurs when blood glucose levels are above normal but below those that are indicative of diabetes.

Causes Of Diabetes

To understand diabetes and its causes, it is extremely essential to break down how the body functions and uses glucose.

How insulin works

Insulin is a hormone produced by a gland located below and beneath the stomach (the pancreas).

  • Insulin is released into the bloodstream via the pancreas.
  • Insulin circulates, allowing sugar to enter cells.
  • Insulin regulates the blood sugar level.
  • As blood sugar levels fall, so does insulin release from the pancreas.

The functioning of glucose

Glucose provides energy to each individual cell in our body including our muscles and other tissues.

  • Glucose is obtained mostly from two sources: food and the liver.
  • Sugar enters the bloodstream and flows in the cells with the help of insulin.
  • The liver both stores and produces glucose.

When your glucose levels are low, such as when you haven’t eaten in a while, your liver converts stored glycogen into glucose. This maintains your glucose level within a normal range.

How To Delay Getting Type 2 Diabetes?

If you are at risk of getting diabetes, you may be able to avoid or postpone its onset. The majority of what you must do is adopt a healthy lifestyle. You will gain additional health benefits if you make these changes. You may minimise your risk of getting other illnesses, as well as feel better and have more energy. The changes are as follows.

Losing weight and keeping it off. Diabetes prevention begins with weight management. By decreasing 5 to 10% of your present weight, you may be able to avoid or delay diabetes. For example, if you weigh 200 pounds, you should aim to shed 10 to 20 pounds. And once you’ve lost the weight, it’s critical that you don’t regain it.

Following a healthy eating plan. It is critical to limit the number of calories you consume each day in order to lose weight and keep it off. To do this, your diet should include fewer amounts as well as less fat and sugar. You should also consume a variety of foods from each food group, such as vegetables, whole grains, and fruits. Limiting red meat and avoiding processed foods are also good ideas.

Get regular exercise. Exercise provides numerous health benefits, including weight loss and blood sugar control. Both of these reduce your chances of developing type 2 diabetes. 5 days a week, try to get at least 30 minutes of physical activity. If you haven’t been active, consult with your doctor to determine which types of exercise are best for you.  

Don’t smoke. Tobacco usage can increase the resistance of insulin, which inturn can lead you on the path of type 2 diabetes. If you are a smoker, try to put an effort to stop.

Consult your doctor to see if there is anything else you can do to delay or avoid type 2 diabetes. If you are at high risk, your doctor may advise you to take one of several types of diabetic medications. We hope the information we shared with you will help you to understand the problem better and help you prevent/ delay the disease. If you want more information on such topics visit our website at RajaRajeshwari Medical College and Hospital today.

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Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic Kidney disease or CKD is s result of loss of kidney function over a period of time. Practically, the kidneys fail, if you may say so. There are though, five stages of CKD depending upon the severity. When the kidneys fail the waste, water and toxic substances accumulate in the body because the kidneys are not able to excrete them. This can further result in conditions like acidosis (excessive acidity of body fluids), disorders related to fatty acids and cholesterol, anemia and high blood pressure.

Chronic Kidney Disease

While Stage five is obviously the end stage known as kidney or renal failure which results in complete kidney function failure. At this stage the person needs dialysis to survive or kidney transplantation.
Acute kidney failure can also lead to loss of kidney function but it’s faster over a period of few days or weeks. But, this condition is reversible many times and there is a possibility of complete recovery of kidney function. But sometimes, it could end up as irreversible and require dialysis.

STAGES
Here’s a run-down the stages of chronic kidney diseases.
1. Slight damage with normal or increased filtration      GFR > 90
2. Mild decrease in kidney function                                GFR range 60-90
3. Moderate decrease in kidney function                       GFR range 30 -59
4. Severe decrease in kidney function                           GFR range 15-29
5. Kidney Failure                                                            GFR <15 / Dialysis

DIAGNOSIS
To check for kidney damage, you need to undergo a few tests that include checking the level of waste products like creatinine and urea, in blood and urine test for abnormalities that indicate kidney damage cause. You may have to undergo an ultrasound for kidney structure assessment and biopsy for determining the cause of kidney problem. The diagnosis is based on results of Glomerular filtration rate and includes details like patient’s age, gender, race and serum creatinine levels.

BEST KIDNEY HOSPITALS IN BANGALORE

RISK FACTORS
Some of the common risk factors of Chronic kidney disease include smoking, hypertension, obesity and diabetes mellitus.

TREATMENT
After course of treatment is decided after determining the cause of the disease. Some kidney complications are treatable while some are not. The treatment procedure includes controlling the symptoms, reducing the complications and slowing the progression process through tested methods. In case the kidneys are severely damage then end stage treatment is provided. The medications used include those for reducing cholesterol levels, treating anemia and high blood pressure, reducing the swelling and protecting your bones. You might also be required to go on low protein diet to minimize wastage in blood.

END STAGE TREAMENT
If your kidneys fail then the only treatment options available are dialysis or transplant. Dialysis is the process of removal of waste products from the body artificially with the help of a machine viz hemodialysis or a thin tube (catheter) fitted in the abdomen and dialysis solution that absorbs the waste plus excess fluids and is drained out. viz peritoneal dialysis. Kidney transplant on the other side is an expensive but better procedure because it involves replacing your kidney with a healthy kidney of a donor surgically. It could be of a deceased or living person. Though, medications after the procedure are to be taken life long for your body to accept the organ through life but no dialysis.

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Complications from Cosmetic Surgeries

The cosmetic market place is booming at present and you can find health spas skin clinics and cosmetic services easily across the city. People are getting more and more health and look conscious and hence opting for services for cosmetic experts. Celebrities and high profile ladies are known to be opting for services of renowned cosmetic experts to keep looking radiant and attractive for years.

Cosmetic surgeries are also popular these days and many people even if being scared of surgeries do opt for them for benefits they offer. But, it is always advisable to look at both sides of the coin.

Complications from Cosmetic Surgeries

Damaged Nerves – Numbness and tingling are some symptoms of nerve damage post a plastic surgery. There have been cases where women experience sensitivity issues after cosmetic surgeries like breast augmentation. Over 10% even lose nipple sensitivity as per experts.

Deep Vein Thrombosis – This is caused due to clotting of blood in deep vein. This can further develop in a rare life threatening complication of lungs, if the clot in the veins breaks and commutes into them.

Infections – Infections of internal or external type can occur in many cases. One of them is cellulitis, a common infection type caused in around 4 percent of people undergoing breast cancer.

Organ Issues – Some cosmetic procedures like liposuction can damage internal organs. This is when the surgical probe comes in internal organs contact thus leading to punctures or visceral perforations further leading to additional surgery.

Scarring – Cosmetic treatments do include surgeries and surgeries bring along scarring. The irony being that the purpose of cosmetic treatments is looking good but it does give scars which is troublesome.

Hematoma – It is caused in up to 6% of the people who undergo breast augmentation procedures and is a pocket of blood that looks like a large painful bruise.

Anaesthesia Complications – When patients are to undergo cosmetic surgeries, they are given anaesthesia, a medication that causes unconsciousness. It could lead to stroke, lung infection, heart attack or death like complications. One of the rarest being waking up in the middle of surgery.

The above are just some of the side effects or complications that can occur besides some others like blood loss or seroma and more. Having said that, you can lower the risk of these side effects by taking services from a credible doctor with good infrastructure.

For Cosmetic Surgery Bangalore, RRMCH provides the best results and regarded as one of the better hospitals in Bangalore.

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The Early You Quit Smoking The Better For Your Lungs

HOW SMOKING AFFECTS OUR LUNGS

All of us are quite aware of the ill effects of Cigarette smoking to our health. Here is some information that you may consider as a bit of good news particularly if you’ve started smoking recently.

Experts say that if a smoker quits smoking, his/ her lungs do heal to a certain extent.

HOW SMOKING AFFECTS OUR LUNGS?

HOW SMOKING AFFECTS OUR LUNGS?
Well, as per the experts when you inhale the smoke of a cigar or cigarette, it causes inflammation and irritation of the lung’s delicate lining. Our lungs are lined with tiny hairs called cilia. After smoking, even upto several hours the brush like movement of cilia is slowed down because smoking causes temporary paralysis to them. Now, this in turn makes their job of cleaning the mucus and other substances like dust particles from the lung airways comparatively ineffective.

Furthermore, there is also an increase in production and thickness of mucus in the lungs of smokers. The inability of the cilia to chuck of the mucus out of the lungs leads to accumulation of the mucus within the lung airbags, thereby choking them and thus leading to cough issues. If smoking persists it can also lead to chronic bronchitis, a kind of lung infection.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER YOU QUIT SMOKING?
The short term inflammation caused by smoking can be reversed once you quit smoking. Though, initially for a few weeks post quitting, you may experience more coughing issues than you ever had while smoking. But, consider this as a positive signal is what experts say. You cough when the lungs are cleaning up your gunk which means that your cilia is again active and on the job of cleaning of mucus, from the airbags of your lungs.

Gradually, the breathing improves and swelling decreases as the lining of the lungs is no longer exposed to the irritants produced due to smoke. The decrease in swelling also aids in regulating the airflow through the passageways.

SOME IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT SMOKING
Statistically speaking, 10 years after you quit smoking, your chances of getting lung cancer are practically reduced to half. This does mean that there is always a risk because once upon a time you were a smoker but the 50% reduction in its possibility is off course a great consideration to quit smoking.

Having said that, one fact that which needs a mention is that not everyone’s lungs get functioning normally once they quit smoking. It actually depends on the number of packets you have been smoking and the number of years you have been doing so. The term is known as pack years and in simple words, the greater the number of pack years, the greater the damage or to put it the other way, lesser the irreversibility. Further, Lung cancer is most likely to occur amongst smokers and ex-smokers and not amongst non smokers.

So, if you’ve started smoking recently, quitting seems a smart idea. And if you have been smoking for a long time, it definitely is a wake up call to call smoking quits.

World NO Tobacco day “Awareness Initiative” and No Tobacco Day Conducted by RRMCH