Tips to Reduce Diabetes Risk | KDAH Blog

Diabetes is India’s fastest growing disease with 72 million cases recorded in 2017. The prevalence of diabetes in adult Indians is 10.4%. It is estimated that by 2035, there will be a staggering 109 million diabetics in India.

Diabetes is a chronic medical condition, that is, it can be curbed at the initial level by introducing lifestyle changes and controlled after its incidence through medicines in early stages and administration of external insulin in advanced stages.

Over the years, occurrence diabetes has more than doubled for men (3.7 percent to 9.1 percent). It has also increased by 80 percent among women in India (4.6 percent to 8.3 percent).

According to a World Health Organization (WHO) fact sheet on diabetes, an estimated 3.4 million deaths are caused due to high blood sugar in the world.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a medical condition that is caused due to insufficient production and secretion of insulin from the pancreas in case of Type-I diabetes and defective response of insulin for Type-2 diabetes. Under normal body circumstances, blood glucose levels are tightly controlled by insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas. Insulin lowers the blood glucose level.

When the blood glucose elevates (for example, after eating food), insulin is released from the pancreas to normalize the glucose level. In patients with diabetes, the absence or insufficient production of insulin causes hyperglycemia.

Why Indians are prone to Diabetes:

• Genetic or Ethnic Factor – Indians have a higher genetic predisposition to diabetes. According to researchers, our ethnicity appears to play a role in this current diabetes epidemic.
• Increased Insulin Resistance -Another factor that is not under our control is that we Indians have a greater degree of insulin resistance which means our cells do not respond to the hormone insulin. And when compared to Europeans, our blood insulin levels also tend to rise higher and more persistently when we eat carbohydrates.
• Lifestyle Changes – With the social and economic development and urbanization, our nutrition has improved, and we are living longer. However, our lifestyle has changed and our diets have become unhealthy. Our traditional diet of unrefined grains is now substituted with refined varieties of the same and calorie-rich foods.
• Obesity – Body mass index (BMI) is an indicator of our body fat. The relative risk of diabetes increases as the BMI increases. Indians comparatively have a higher body fat (especially around the waist) for any BMI. This, coupled with our inherent higher insulin resistance, significantly puts us at a higher risk of developing diabetes.

Take your health in your own hands. Be more conscious of your diet and make efforts to have a strict fitness regime. Your age, family history, blood pressure, cholesterol, body weight determines your risk of getting Type 2 Diabetes. You can help reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes by understanding your risk and making changes to your lifestyle.

Here is how you can reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes:

• Manage your weight. Excess body fat, particularly if stored around the abdomen, can increase the body’s resistance to the hormone insulin. This can lead to type 2 diabetes.
• Exercise regularly. Moderate physical activity on most days of the week helps manage weight, reduce blood glucose levels and may also improve blood pressure and cholesterol.
• Eat a balanced, healthy diet. Reduce the amount of fat in your diet, especially saturated and trans fats. Eat more fruit, vegetables, and high-fiber foods. Cut back on salt.
• Limit takeaway and processed foods. Fast foods are usually high in salt, fat, and kilojoules. It’s best to cook for yourself using fresh ingredients whenever possible.
• Limit your alcohol intake. Too much alcohol can lead to weight gain and may increase your blood pressure and triglyceride levels. Men should have no more than two standard drinks a day and women should have no more than one.
• Quit smoking. Smokers are twice as likely to develop diabetes as non-smokers.
• Control your blood pressure. Most people can do this with regular exercise, a balanced diet and by keeping a healthy weight. In some cases, you might need medication prescribed by your doctor.
• Be regular in your medical checkups. As you get older, it’s a good idea to regularly check your blood glucose, blood pressure, and blood cholesterol levels.

Diabetes is preventable. Let us fight this devil together. Talk to our experts at our Diabetes Clinic to know more about Diabetes. Please check the below link:

https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/departments/clinicaldepartments/endocrinologydiabetes/diabeticclinic.html

Be Aware about Stroke Symptoms and Live healthier Life | KDAH Blog

A stroke occurs when a part of the brain loses its blood supply and stops working. This causes the part of the body that the injured brain controls to stop working. A stroke also is called a cerebrovascular accident, CVA, or “brain attack.”

The types of strokes include:

• Ischemic stroke (part of the brain loses blood flow)
• Hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding occurs within the brain)

The transient ischemic attack, TIA, or mini-stroke -The stroke symptoms resolve within minutes but may take up to 24 hours on their own without treatment. This is a warning sign that a stroke may occur in the near future.

From the onset of symptoms, there is only a 3 to 4 1/2 hour window to use clot-busting drugs (thrombolytics) to try to restore blood supply to the affected part of the brain. Stroke is diagnosed by the patient’s symptoms, history, and blood and imaging tests. The prognosis and recovery for a person that has suffered a stroke depend upon the location of the injury to the brain.

Remember FAST if you think someone might be having a stroke:

• Face drooping
• Arm weakness
• Speech difficulty
• Time to call emergency

A stroke is a medical emergency because strokes can lead to death or permanent disability. There are opportunities to treat ischemic strokes but that treatment needs to be started in the first few hours after the signs of a stroke begin. The patient, family, or bystanders, should call emergency medical services immediately if they suspect a stroke.

Risk factors of stroke:

Overall, the most common risk factors for stroke are:

• High blood pressure.
• High cholesterol.
• Smoking.
• Diabetes.
• Family history.
• Age.

Heart conditions like atrial fibrillation, patent foramen ovale, and heart valve disease can also be the potential cause of stroke.

Stroke Symptoms and Signs:

The symptoms of a stroke vary depending upon the area of the brain affected by a lack of oxygen. All strokes involve symptoms that relate to impairment of nerve function. The symptoms typically arise suddenly and most commonly occur on one side of the body. Symptoms and signs of stroke can include:

• Acute change in a level of consciousness or confusion.
• Acute onset of weakness or paralysis of half or part of the body
• Numbness of one half or part of the body
• Partial vision loss.
• Tingling or weakness.
• A headache, nausea, and vomiting.
• Double vision.
• Difficulty speaking or understanding speech.
• A difficulty with balance and vertigo.

Here are some Stroke Myths and facts:-

Prevent stroke attacks:

You can fight stroke on many fronts. Here are a few changes in your daily lifestyle to help prevent strokes:

• Know and control your blood pressure.
• Don’t smoke; stop if you do.
• Lose weight if needed.
• Become more active.
• Identify and manage atrial fibrillation.
• Be aggressive about treating a transient ischemic attack (TIA, or mini-stroke).
• Treat circulatory problems like peripheral artery disease, sickle cell disease, or severe anemia.
• Know and control your blood sugar and cholesterol.
• If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation.
• Adopt a healthy diet low in sodium and rich in potassium.
• Know the warning signs of stroke and respond immediately.

Is someone around you having a stroke attack? Call our Emergency department on 91-22-3091-9191. Act fast and contact our Stroke clinic immediately. Please find below link for more details:

https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/departments/clinicsatkh/strokeclinic.html

What is Arthritis? Know about Symptoms, Facts & Foods | KDAH Blog

Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints. It can affect one joint or multiple joints. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis, with different causes and treatment methods. Two of the most common types are osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It’s important to be accurately diagnosed and know what type of arthritis you have to get the appropriate treatment.

Arthritis affects more than 180 million people in India – higher than many well-known diseases such as diabetes, AIDS and cancer. Arthritis is one of the most common causes of joint pain. Keep an eye for the early signs of arthritis as arthritis worsens over a period of time.

Read More in Details About Symptoms of Arthritis:

• Joint Pain
• Joint Swelling
• Stiffness of Joints
• Deformity of Joints
• Grinding Sensations
• Lumps and Bumps Around Joints
• Joint Tenderness
• Warm/Red Joints

Some facts about Arthritis:

• Arthritis can affect children too. Arthritis is often thought of as an age disease that commonly affects the elderly. However, people of all ages may be affected, even children.
• Rheumatoid arthritis isn’t a type of arthritis related to old age, it usually develops in people between the ages of 40 and 60.
• Arthritis is three to four times more common amongst women as compared to men, especially older women.
• Patients suffering from arthritis symptoms, such pain and stiffness, often do not get adequate exercise due to increased levels of pain. This may lead to other lifestyle diseases like diabetes, heart disease and obesity.

Arthritis and food:

Following a healthy diet and adding in specific foods and spices could help fight inflammation and joint pain of Arthritis. Here are some suggested foods:

• Broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cabbage. These veggies are part of the cruciferous family, and they are full of a compound called sulforaphane, which helps slow cartilage damage in joints due to osteoarthritis.
• Fatty fish. Fatty fish like salmon, tuna, trout and mackerel are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which help fight inflammation.
• Garlic. Garlic is a member of the allium family—which also includes onions and leeks. These items contain a compound called diallyl disulfide that may help with a number of diseases—including arthritis. This compound helpps limit cartilage-damaging enzymes.
• Turmeric. Turmeric contains a compound called curcumin, that is beneficial to manage chronic inflammatory-related joint disease.
• Vitamin C. Antioxidants in vitamin C may slow the progression of osteoarthritis. You can get vitamin C from strawberries, kiwi, pineapple, or cantaloupe.

Living with Arthritis

Arthritis is a leading cause of pain and disability worldwide. Here are some do’s and don’ts about how to handle arthritis pain.

1. Everyday routine

• Keep your joints moving. Do daily, gentle stretches that move your joints through their full range of motion.
• Use good posture. A physical therapist can show you how to sit, stand and move correctly.
• Know your limits. Balance activity and rest, and don’t overdo. In addition, lifestyle changes are important for easing pain.
• Manage weight. Being overweight can increase complications of arthritis and contribute to arthritis pain. Making incremental, permanent lifestyle changes resulting in gradual weight loss is often the most effective method of weight management.
• Quit smoking. Smoking causes stress on connective tissues, which can increase arthritis pain.

2. Exercise

When you have arthritis, movement can decrease your pain and stiffness, improve your range of motion, strengthen your muscles, and increase your endurance.

What to do

Choose the right kinds of activities — those that build the muscles around your joints but don’t damage the joints themselves. Seek professional help if needed.

What to avoid

Avoid activities that involve high impact and repetitive motion, such as:

• Running
• Jumping
• Tennis
• High-impact aerobics
• Repeating the same movement, such as a tennis serve, again and again.

Do you know anyone suffering from Arthritis? Consult our team of specialists at the Centre for Bone and Joint. Please find below link for more details:

https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/departments/centresofexcellence/centrefor_bonejoint.html

Beware Of Osteoporosis! – KDAH Blog

Osteoporosis is a bone disease that occurs when the body loses too much bone, makes too little bone, or both. As a result, bones become weak and may break from a fall or even by minor bumps. Osteoporosis means porous bones. Osteoporotic bones have lost density or mass and contain abnormal tissue structure. As bones become less dense, they weaken and are more likely to break. World Osteoporosis Day, 20th October is dedicated to raising global awareness of the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of osteoporosis.

Fracture, the most common early symptom:

You may have a fragility-related fracture before you are diagnosed with bone loss or osteoporosis. This means that your wrist, back, hip, or another bone is fractured as a result of a mild to moderate trauma, such as falling from below your standing height. The mild impact caused by tripping, falling, or hitting an object that might not have fractured or broken a bone in previous years can cause future fractures when you develop bone loss or osteoporosis.

Other early signs of Osteoporosis:

• A loss of height or change in posture, such as stooping over, can be signs that you might have osteoporosis.
• If you have a height loss of more than two inches or you have curvature of the spine, ask your doctor.
• High levels of serum calcium or alkaline phosphatase on a blood test
• Bone mineral density results showing a T-score of -2.5 or less.
• Vitamin D deficiency.
• Difficulty getting up from a chair without using your arms to push.
• Joint or muscle aches.

Who should get screened?

Men and women older than 50 should talk to their doctor about Osteoporosis. Any adult who has had a fracture after age 50 needs to get their bone density checked. Bone loss begins without noticeable symptoms hence screening is required.

Read More How to reduce your risk of osteoporosis:

• Exercise regularly
• Smoking
• Limit alcohol consumption
• Calcium supplements
• Concentrate on Vitamin K

Osteoporosis, are you at risk:

• Age. Your bone density peaks around age 30. After that, you’ll begin to lose bone mass. So that’s all the more reason to do strength training and weight-bearing exercise — and make sure you get enough calcium and vitamin D from your diet — to keep your bones as strong as possible as you get older.
• Gender. Women over the age of 50 are the most likely people to develop osteoporosis. The condition is 4 times as likely in women than men.
• Family history. If your parents or grandparents have had any signs of osteoporosis, such as a fractured hip after a minor fall, you may be more likely to get it, too.
• Bone structure and body weight. Petite and thin women have a greater chance of developing osteoporosis. One reason is that they have less bone to lose than women with more body weight and larger frames.
• Broken Bones. If you’ve had fractures before, your bones may not be as strong.
• Certain diseases. Some diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis raise the odds that you’ll get osteoporosis.
• Some medications. Certain prescription medications taken for long durations can also boost your odds of getting osteoporosis.
• Smoking. It’s bad for your bones. To lower your risk of osteoporosis and fractures — and many other health problems quit smoking.
• Alcohol. Heavy drinking can lead to thinning of the bones and make fractures more likely.

Do you or a family member have any symptoms of Osteoporosis? Get it checked today itself without any delay. Consult our experts at the Osteoporosis Clinic at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital. Please find below link:

https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/departments/clinicsatkh/osteoporosisclinic.html

Tuberculosis & its 2 Types – KDAH Blog

Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious disease that is caused by bacteria and it spreads through the air from person to person. While it is preventable and curable, it can be fatal if it is not treated properly. According to the 2017 Global TB Report released by WHO, India continues to have the highest cases of Tuberculosis in the world. When a person infected with lung TB coughs, sneezes or spits, he/she propels TB germs into the air. One only needs to inhale a few of these germs to become infected. The most common symptoms of TB are night sweats, fever, cough, weight loss, fatigue and loss of appetite.

There are two types of Tuberculosis – Latent TB and Active TB. Let’s find out more about these two types!

1) Latent TB

2) Active TB

One in 10 people who are infected with TB develop active TB at some point in their lives. According to a World Health Organization (WHO) estimate, 8 million people develop active TB each year. Kokilaben Hospital’s Pulmonary Medicine department helps diagnose and treat various respiratory diseases including TB. We have a state-of-the-art Pulmonary Function Testing Lab for comprehensive lung function testing.

There is also something known as drug-resistant TB which means that the bacteria in your body won’t be affected by certain drugs. When this happens, you will have to use the second line of drugs that are not only costlier, but also cause more side-effects. The easiest way to prevent TB is by stopping the spread of the bacteria from one person to another.

Kokilaben Hospital is an India based top multispeciality healthcare centre in Andheri West – Mumbai, which provides complete treatments and surgeries for all kinds of diseases.

All About Breast Cancer - KDAH Blog

Breast cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the breast. It can be a devastating discovery for the patient. Sadly, no one knows the exact causes of breast cancer. Doctors seldom know why one woman develops breast cancer and another doesn’t, and most women who have breast cancer will never be able to pinpoint an exact cause. What is certain is that breast cancer is always caused by damage to a cell’s DNA.

Facts About Breast Cancer

• One in eight women is diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.
• Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women.
• Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women.
• Breast cancer can often relapse after complete cure and is called recurrence.
• Although breast cancer is less common in men, a small percent of men suffer from breast cancer.

Tumours

A tumour is a mass of abnormal tissue. There are two types of tumours: those that are non-cancerous, or ‘benign’, and those that are cancerous, which are ‘malignant’.

1. Benign Tumours

When a tumour is diagnosed as benign, doctors will usually leave it alone rather than remove it. Occasionally they may continue to grow, pressing on organs and causing pain or other problems. In these situations, the tumour is removed, allowing pain or complications to subside.

2. Malignant tumours

Malignant tumours are cancerous and aggressive because they invade and damage surrounding tissue. When a tumour is suspected to be malignant, the doctor will perform a biopsy to determine the severity or aggressiveness of the tumour.

3. Metastatic cancer

Metastatic cancer is when cancer cells of a malignant tumour spread to other parts of the body, usually through the lymph system, and form a secondary tumour.

When dealing with breast cancer, tumours are often graded based on a scale of one to three indicating how aggressive the cancerous cells are:

• Low grade (1) – Well-differentiated.
• Intermediate grade (2) – Moderately differentiated.
• High grade (3) – Poorly differentiated.

Breast cancer tumour grades are not to be confused with cancer stages. Tumour grades help to determine the best treatment plan, and in general, a lower grade tumour means a better chance for a full recovery. However, there are individuals who make full recoveries at every stage and with even the highest grades of aggressive tumours.

Risk Factors:

Here are some of the risk factors for breast cancer.

Risk Factors You Cannot Change:

• Getting older. The risk for breast cancer increases with age; most breast cancers are diagnosed after age 50.
• Genetic mutations. Inherited changes (mutations) to certain genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2. Women who have inherited these genetic changes are at a higher risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
• Reproductive history. Early menstrual periods before age 12 and starting menopause after age 55 expose women to hormones longer, raising their risk of getting breast cancer.
• Having dense breasts. Dense breasts have more connective tissue than fatty tissue, which can sometimes make it hard to see tumours on a mammogram. Women with dense breasts are more likely to get breast cancer.
• Personal history of breast cancer or certain non-cancerous breast diseases. Women who have had breast cancer are more likely to get breast cancer a second time. Some non-cancerous breast diseases such as atypical hyperplasia or lobular carcinoma in situ are associated with a higher risk of getting breast cancer.
• Family history of breast cancer. A woman’s risk for breast cancer is higher if she has a mother, sister, or daughter (first-degree relative) or multiple family members on either her mother’s or father’s side of the family who have had breast cancer.
• Previous treatment using radiation therapy. Women who had radiation therapy to the chest or breasts before age 30 have a higher risk of getting breast cancer later in life.

Risk Factors You Can Change:

• Not being physically active. Women who are not physically active have a higher risk of getting breast cancer.
• Being overweight or obese after menopause. Older women who are overweight or obese have a higher risk of getting breast cancer than those at a normal weight.
• Taking hormones. Some forms of hormone replacement therapy (those that include both estrogen and progesterone) taken during menopause can raise the risk of breast cancer when taken for more than five years. Certain oral contraceptives (birth control pills) also have been found to raise breast cancer risk.
• Reproductive history. Having the first pregnancy after age 30, not breastfeeding, and never having a full-term pregnancy can raise breast cancer risk.
• Drinking alcohol. Studies show that a woman’s risk for breast cancer increases with the more alcohol she drinks.

Types of breast cancer:

Breast cancer can begin in different areas of the breast — the ducts, the lobules, or in some cases, the tissue in between. In this section, you can learn about the different types of breast cancer, including non-invasive, invasive, and metastatic breast cancers, as well as the intrinsic or molecular subtypes of breast cancer. Here are some types:

Ductal Carcinoma In Situ

Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) is a non-invasive breast cancer where abnormal cells have been contained in the lining of the breast milk duct.

Invasive Ductal Carcinoma

Invasive Ductal Carcinoma means that abnormal cells that originated in the lining of the breast milk duct have invaded surrounding tissue.

Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Triple negative breast cancer means that the cells in the tumour are negative for progesterone, estrogen, and HER2/neu receptors.

Inflammatory Breast Cancer

Inflammatory breast cancer is a less common form of breast cancer that may not develop a tumour and often affects the skin.

Metastatic Breast Cancer

Metastatic breast cancer is cancer that has spread beyond the breast, sometimes into the lungs, bones, or brain.

Breast Cancer During Pregnancy

Women who are diagnosed with breast cancer during pregnancy may face tremendous additional strain due to concern for the safety of the unborn child.

Other Types

Less common types of breast cancer include Medullary Carcinoma, Tubular Carcinoma, and Mucinous Carcinoma.

Is anyone you know suffering from Breast cancer? Consult our team of specialists at the exclusive Breast Clinic at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital. Our experienced team provides an accurate diagnosis with the best possible treatment options. Please find below website link:

https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/departments/clinicsatkh/breastclinic.html