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

Breast Cancer – Being Aware Helps.

Breast cancer is spreading and increasing its presence day by day. It is becoming more and more important for women to be aware of breast cancer. Breast cancer symptoms vary widely — from lumps to swelling to skin changes — and many breast cancers have no obvious symptoms at all.

A recent study published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) declares that breast cancer is the most common cancer in India. It has outranked all other cancers with about 1.6 lakh new breast cancers detected every year. Sadly, breast cancer also ranks first in deaths due to all cancers. One in 25 women is at risk of developing breast cancer in India, only one out of two breast cancer patients make it beyond 5 years after treatment.

Breast cancer symptoms to watch for:

·         swelling of all or part of the breast.

·         skin irritation or dimpling.

·         breast pain.

·         nipple pain or the nipple turning inward.

·         redness, scaliness, or thickening of the nipple or breast skin.

·         a nipple discharge other than breast milk.

·         a lump in the underarm area.

These changes also can be signs of less serious conditions that are not cancerous, such as an infection or a cyst. If you notice anything unusual on your breast, consult your doctor. Make breast self-exam a part of your monthly health care routine.

Get yourself screened with mammograms regularly after 40 years. It doesn’t help prevent cancer, but it can help find cancer early when it’s most treatable. For most women, regular mammograms can begin at age 40, but specific recommendations vary by age and risk. You can have yearly mammograms from age 40 years to 55 years. Post 55 years mammograms can be done every other year.

More about Mammograms:

·         Mammograms can save your life. Finding breast cancer early reduces your risk of dying from the disease by 25-30% or more. at high risk.

·         Don’t be afraid. Mammography is a fast procedure (about 20 minutes), and discomfort is minimal for most women. The procedure is safe: there’s only a very tiny amount of radiation exposure from a mammogram.

·         Bring your past mammogram films/results with you.

·         Don’t wear deodorant or antiperspirant to your mammogram since these can show up on the film and interfere with the test results.

·         Women should get a mammogram once a year beginning at age 40. If you’re at high risk of breast cancer, have a strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer, or have had radiation treatment to the chest in the past, it’s recommended that you start having annual mammograms at a younger age (often beginning around age 30).

Prevent Breast cancer:

·         Keep Weight in Check – Being overweight can increase the risk of many different cancers, including breast cancer, especially after menopause.

·         Be Physically Active – Women who are physically active for at least 30 minutes a day have a lower risk of breast cancer. Regular exercise is also one of the best ways to help keep weight in check.

·         Eat Your Fruits & Vegetables – and Avoid Too Much Alcohol

A healthy diet can help lower the risk of breast cancer. Try to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables and keep alcohol at moderate levels or lower (a drink a day or under). If you don’t drink, don’t feel you need to start.

·         Don’t Smoke – On top of lowering quality of life and increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke, smoking is also responsible for at least 15 cancers including breast cancer.

·         Breastfeed – Breastfeeding for a total of one year or more lowers the risk of breast cancer. It also has great health benefits for the child.

·         Avoid Birth Control Pills – Birth control pills have both risks than benefits. The younger a woman is, the lower the risks are. While women are taking birth control pills, they have a slightly increased risk of breast cancer especially after 35 years of age.

·         Avoid Post-Menopausal Hormones – Post-menopausal hormones shouldn’t be taken long-term to prevent chronic diseases. They highly increase your risk of breast cancer.

Eat healthily, reduce your risk of Breast Cancer:

No specific food can cause or prevent breast cancer. However, dietary guidelines may help you reduce your overall breast cancer risk. Include these in your diet:

·         Green tea – Green tea is high in polyphenol and catechins. These antioxidants may help protect cells from DNA damage caused by free radicals.

·         Pomegranate juice – Pomegranate juice, which is derived from its seed pulp, also contains polyphenols. Pomegranate juice has the potential to be a preventive tool for certain cancers, including breast cancer.

·         Berries – Berries, such as blueberries, strawberries, and black raspberries, contain high amounts of polyphenols, which may have anticancer properties. They’re also high in antioxidants, such as vitamin C.

·         Plums and peaches – The polyphenols found in plums and peaches may help prevent breast cancer cells from forming and later multiplying. Evidence suggests the polyphenols help kill cancerous cells while leaving healthy cells alone.

·         Cruciferous vegetables – These vegetables are typically rich in antioxidant vitamins, such as C, E, and K, and are high in fiber. Cruciferous vegetables contain glucosinolates, a type of chemical which has cancer-fighting properties. Some examples are broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, arugula, Brussel sprouts.

·         Dark, leafy green vegetables – The darker the green, the denser the nutrition. Greens are typically high in antioxidants and fiber, which may make them potent anticancer tools. Spinach, collard, mustard, turnip, beet greens are some good options.

·         Apigenin – Apigenin is a flavonoid found in certain fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Because apigenin is an antioxidant, these foods may have anti-inflammatory properties. Herbs like parsley, celery, basil, oregano, thyme, coriander include this.

·         Lignans and saponins – Lignans and saponins are polyphenols and may have anticancer properties. They’re often found in beans like lentils, split peas, kidney beans.

·         Capsaicin -Both dried and fresh chili peppers contain capsaicin. The hotter the pepper, the more capsaicin it has. Research suggests that capsaicin may prevent the growth and spread of malignant cells in some people with breast cancer.

·         Turmeric – Our popular spice turmeric contains curcumin, a substance with potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It helps to decrease the toxic effects of certain breast cancer cells and can potentially inhibit cancer cell growth.

Being aware of breast cancer is important. As you age get yourself screened regularly. Talk to experts at our Breast clinic for more information about Breast cancer and to know if you are at risk. Please find below website link:

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

All about Organ Donation at Kokilaben Hospitals

The need of organ donation has never been greater than in today’s times. More than half a million Indians are estimated to be in dire need of an organ transplant.

What is an Organ Donation?

Know the importance of organ transplants to understand organ donation. A transplant is a medical procedure where one person’s dysfunctional organ or tissue is replaced by that of a healthy person. In certain cases, despite major advances in the medical world, transplant is the only option available for the patient. Transplants drastically improve the quality of life of the patient and give them another chance to live.

What organs and tissues can be transplanted?

Liver, Kidney, Pancreas, Heart, Lung,Intestine, Cornea, Middle ear, Skin, Bone, Bone marrow, Heart valves, Connective tissue.

Who can be an organ donor?

People of all ages should consider themselves potential donors. When a person dies, he or she is evaluated for donor suitability based on their medical history and age. The Organ Procurement Agency determines medical suitability for donation.

Some things about Organ Donation:

• Anyone can be an organ donor irrespective of age, caste, religion, community, current or past medical condition. Children can also be organ donors after taking consent for organ donation from their parents.
• However certain diseases like active cancer, active HIV, active infection have restrictions. Patients suffering from Hepatitis B and C also have some limitations.
• Vital organs like heart, liver, kidneys, intestines, lungs, and pancreas can be donated only in case of ‘brain death’.
• However other tissues like corneas, heart valves, skin, bones etc can be donated only in case of natural death.
• Take a moment for wisdom and pledge to gift someone a new life — sign up to be an organ donor. Log on to www.organdonationday.in

Best Hospital for Robotic Surgery in Mumbai

Kokilaben Hospital started Centre for Robotic Surgery in 2012 and within short span have completed more than 1800 surgeries.

In continuation with the momentum the hospital present their second cutting edge Robot da Vinci Xi- the next frontier for minimally invasive surgery.

SERVICES

The Centre besides Minimally-Invasive Surgery (MIS) offers Robotic Surgery, a breakthrough surgical technique which is an effective, minimally-invasive alternative to both open and laparoscopic surgery.

TECHNOLOGY

With the da Vinci Surgical System (Robot), surgeons are now able to offer a minimally-invasive option for complex surgical procedures as well. Robotic Surgery, computer-assisted surgery and robotically-assisted surgery are terms for technological developments that use robotic systems to aid in surgical procedures.

Robotic Surgery was developed to overcome both the limitations of MIS and enhance the capabilities of surgeons performing open surgery.

Some of the major benefits experienced by surgeons using the RoboticSurgical System over traditional approaches have been:

• Greater Surgical Precision
• Increased Range of Motion
• Improved Dexterity

The benefits experienced by the patients include:

• Shorter Hospital Stay
• Lesser Pain
• Lower Risk of Infection
• Lesser Blood Loss
• Fewer Transfusions
• Less Scarring
• Faster Recovery Quicker Return to Normal Daily Activities

For more information and details visit our Robotic Surgery department

World Breastfeeding Week

The World Health Organisation WHO recommends six months of exclusive breastfeeding for babies and thereafter continuing breastfeeding on demand till the child reaches two years of age. Breast feeding is the most valuable gift which you can give to your newborn. It is the healthiest natural food for your baby and undoubtedly plays a very important role in his/her life. Breast milk contains all the nutrients which babies need for their growth and to stay healthy for a longer period of time.

Benefits of Breastfeeding:

• Early breast milk also called colostrum is a magical liquid for your baby. This milk is rich in nutrients and antibodies and helps to protect your baby.
• Most of the infants can digest breast milk very easily as compare to formula or any other milk because breast milk contains certain enzymes which helps baby to digest the milk.
• Breastfeeding not only protects your child from different diseases but also reduces the mothers risk from health problems like type 2 diabetes, postpartum depression, ovarian and breast cancer.
• Breast feeding saves money and is convenient. It eliminates the need of formula and related feeding supplies essentials and sterilizing of bottles.